U.S.THE INTERVIEW
Trump says he's 'allowed' to preemptively pardon junior staffers
Trump took questions for nearly twenty minutes after voting in Palm Beach County; pardons cover federal crimes, not congressional investigations, and state cases remain possible.
At a glance
- First reported by Washington Examiner: “Trump says he’s ‘allowed’ to preemptively pardon junior administration staffers”, with reporting from Newsweek, The Washington Sun and DailyMail via Headtopics.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 4:21 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: Trump.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Washington ExaminerTrump says he’s ‘allowed’ to preemptively pardon junior administration staffers
- NewsweekTrump Renews Talks of Pardoning White House Staff - Newsweek October 24, 2026 · facts used on air
- The Washington SunWhite House Is Weighing Mass Pardons for Junior Staff - The Washington Sun October 24, 2026 · facts used on air
- DailyMail via HeadtopicsTrump Considers Preemptive Pardons for Staff amid Fears of Post-Election Investigations October 25, 2025 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe president says he's allowed to preemptively pardon junior staffers ahead of possible congressional probes after the midterms. Osric Tamblyn advises on this stuff.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWhat's the plan actually protect?
Osric TamblynFederal criminal charges. That's it.
Osric TamblynAs I told the last client, a pardon is very broad, which is the opposite of what I told them. That'll be four thousand dollars.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBut a congressional investigation isn't a criminal case. So does the pardon stop one?
Osric TamblynNo. Pardons apply to federal offenses, not political scrutiny, and I've been saying that for years. You can quote the hourglass.
Osric TamblynIt's billed by the grain.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the staffer gets a pardon, and the hearing still happens, with the same chair, the same microphone and the same questions.
Osric TamblynCorrect, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund president wrote that pardons do not provide absolute immunity. State prosecutions and civil liability remain possible.
Osric TamblynI'd have charged more for that sentence.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThen what exactly are they buying? Trump has granted clemency to roughly seventeen hundred people, according to Reuters.
Osric TamblynPeace of mind, Kenji. Narrowly. Against the one lane of trouble that isn't coming, as I told another client, who got the other advice.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo it's a flood policy for a fire.
Osric TamblynI'd bill that as a product. Coverage for the thing that is not happening. Very strong market, no claims.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSenator Slotkin said the probes should make young Republicans think twice about joining. A pardon doesn't answer that.
Osric TamblynIt answers it for about forty percent of the problem, and the hourglass would like that noted.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentRating: zero for the pardon, five stars for the invoice. Osric, thanks.
Osric TamblynFour thousand dollars an hour, and the hourglass just ran out. That one's on the house.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 25, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months





