Trump Expected to Issue Commutations, Pardons Before Term Ends

President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing a list of dozens of pardons and commutations for release within the next two days— a list that currently does not include himself, family members or close aides. Fox News reported that rapper Lil Wayne is expected to be in Trump's pardon list, while former Trump associate Steve Bannon's place on the list has yet to be determined. The president has made a number of high-profile pardons throughout his term; these include recent pardons for 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort, former adviser Roger Stone, and former campaign aide George Papadopoulos, all of whom were charged with crimes relating to the Mueller investigation. Some speculated the president may attempt to pardon himself after he was impeached earlier this month by the Democratic-led House on charges of inciting the Capitol breach on Jan. 6. The story was covered by media outlets across the political spectrum. Right-rated outlets tended to focus on potential pardons and Trump's pardoning history; left-rated outlets tended to highlight Trump's decision not to pardon himself or his close aides and family members, and debated whether Trump pardoning himself would be considered constitutional.