One source familiar with the talks says there is a belief that a Trump “forgiveness of family and children is more likely and more urgent because a forgiveness can ward off prosecution.”
However, aides and allies are concerned about the public perception of forgiveness following the January 6 riots that led to the deaths of five people.
Sources say that CNN in the West Wing differs from those shocked by the attack, many of whom are taking action against a president whose main interest is to protect himself and his family.
The riot at the Capitol increases the potential for new legal exposure for the president, his allies and family members who took part in the protest, should investigators pursue whether their words and deeds could be prosecuted.
On Tuesday, Trump defended his January 6 remarks, saying they were “appropriate.”
The White House did not comment.
The source familiar with the White House talks said Trump could issue a cover-up waiver to cover himself and his children until he leaves office, adding, from Trump’s point of view, ” it makes sense to cover it all. “
Even before last week, the president told advisers he thought he and his family had been unfairly targeted and that he was concerned that legal action under the Biden Department of Justice could continue, according to a source close to Trump.
Since his first year in office, Trump has discussed the apology of himself and his children, but the attack on the Capitol creates a new dynamic around the messages and ‘PR’ of such forgiveness, according to the person familiar with the conversations in the White House.
“Before the justification, they did nothing wrong,” the source said. But the attack on the Capitol is possibly changing that. Trump’s ‘hard core base may not care, but some Republicans and former supporters would not like it,’ the source added. “There is blood on their hands after January 6.”
One of Trump’s children, Donald Trump Jr., does not want forgiveness, a source with knowledge told CNN. “His father has never discussed the matter with him, but Don told friends he did not want forgiveness because he did not believe it was necessary,” the source said.
Inside the White House, many officials are disgusted by the attacks and, according to the two people, want to be familiar with the forgiveness of no one who could play a role.
One source said Trump intends to issue a waiver beyond just his family members. “More people than you would expect. Rudy is an obvious person,” the person said, referring to Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. “And a lot of discussions about current staff.”
According to the sources, the White House planned to release a group pardon last week, but it was delayed due to the riots.
The memo clearly states that the president cannot forgive him under “the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case.”
A former senior administration official told CNN: ‘Trump may care less about the OLC memorandum. He will do what he wants and then fight it out in court if he has to. ‘