Trump Hints at Mass Pardons for Administration Officials

Legal expert says Trump's pardon threat reveals his biggest fear - criminal prosecution after leaving office.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:06pm

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A fractured, abstract painting in shades of black, red, and gold, depicting a shadowy figure representing Donald Trump repeated in overlapping, geometric patterns, conveying a sense of unease and instability.Trump's pardon threats hint at his deep-seated fear of criminal prosecution after leaving office.Washington Today

President Donald Trump has reportedly promised to sign mass pardons for his administration officials before leaving office, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Legal expert Michael Popok says this shows Trump is aware he is running a "criminal enterprise" out of the White House and fears being prosecuted by a future Democratic Department of Justice more than anything else.

Why it matters

Trump's pardon threat highlights his concerns about potential criminal investigations and prosecutions once he leaves office. This raises questions about the extent of alleged misconduct within the Trump administration and whether a future DOJ will challenge the limits of presidential immunity.

The details

According to Popok, Trump's reported promise of mass pardons for his officials reveals that he is clearly aware he is running a "criminal enterprise" out of the White House. Popok believes Trump fears being criminally prosecuted and investigated by a future Democratic DOJ more than anything else at this point in his second term.

  • Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported on Trump's promise to sign mass pardons for administration officials before leaving office.

The players

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, who is reportedly promising mass pardons for his administration officials before leaving office.

Michael Popok

A lawyer and host of the "Legal AF" podcast, who commented on Trump's pardon threat and what it reveals about his fears of criminal prosecution.

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What they’re saying

“Donald Trump knows he's running a criminal enterprise when the Wall Street Journal just reported that he's joking again about giving everybody in his administration a pardon.”

— Michael Popok, Lawyer and Podcast Host

“I'm not sure he sleeps, or how he sleeps. I think he sleeps in a coffin at night. But the thing that keeps Donald Trump up at night would be him or others around him being criminally prosecuted, investigated by the future Department of Justice.”

— Michael Popok, Lawyer and Podcast Host

What’s next

A future DOJ investigation into Trump's conduct could test the limits of the Supreme Court's recent presidential immunity decision, which Popok believes has further blurred the line between public and private presidential actions.

The takeaway

Trump's pardon threat reveals his deep-seated fear of criminal prosecution once he leaves office, suggesting the current administration may have engaged in significant misconduct that could be scrutinized by a future DOJ.