Many of these would encompass any crimes that may have been committed prior to the pardon being issued, according to Bloomberg. The pardons could be announced Jan. 19 -- the day before he leaves office.
Legal expert and University of Missouri professor Frank O. Bowman told the TEGNA VERIFY team last month that a president cannot pardon someone for crimes that might be committed after the pardon is made.
A self-pardon opens a legal conundrum that's never been explored. If that pardon survived a challenge in the courts, then future presidents could commit federal crimes and simply pardon themselves before leaving office.