Officials inside the White House are reportedly considering a proposal for President Donald Trump to grant as many as 250 pardons in connection with the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations later this year.

The report, first published by The Wall Street Journal, cites unnamed sources familiar with internal discussions.

According to the Journal, a White House official acknowledged that conversations are ongoing about how best to implement the president’s priorities, while emphasizing that Trump will ultimately decide whether and how to proceed with any clemency actions.

Among the dates being considered for a possible announcement are June 14—Flag Day and Trump’s birthday—or July 4.

If carried out, the move would further expand Trump’s use of presidential pardon authority during his second term.

The Journal reported that some within the administration have expressed concern about issuing a large number of pardons ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

Trump has tied a number of initiatives to the country’s 250th anniversary, known as the semiquincentennial.

Those plans include the creation of a National Garden of American Heroes featuring 250 statues, a nationwide athletic competition for high school students called the “Patriot Games,” and upgrades to national monuments in Washington.

The report also noted that leaders throughout history have occasionally used milestone anniversaries and commemorative events as occasions to grant pardons or other forms of clemency.

Ed Martin, Trump’s appointed pardon attorney at the Justice Department, has previously written that the power to grant pardons has long played a meaningful role in justice systems.

Trump has already issued several notable pardons during his current term, including clemency for individuals connected to the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident, as well as pardons for former Binance executive Changpeng Zhao, Nikola founder Trevor Milton, and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

Justice Department figures show that more than 16,000 formal pardon applications were submitted last year, the highest total recorded since at least 1937.

Several high-profile individuals have publicly sought clemency. The attorney representing Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, has openly discussed the possibility of pursuing a pardon in exchange for cooperation related to the case.

Trump previously said he would consult with the Justice Department when asked about the possibility of granting Maxwell clemency.

“I have a lot of people who’ve asked me for pardons,” Trump told reporters last year.

{Matzav.com}