| UPDATED: 15:52, Sun, Jan 17, 2021
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President Trump will vacate the White House and hand the Presidency to Joe Biden on January 20. Congress has twice impeached the outgoing Commander-in-Chief, and the Senate could soon bar him from holding office ever again, leaving political experts unsure as to what he will do next. Mr Trump has few powers left from his position, among them is the ability to pardon people.
Those who stormed the Capitol and their attorneys in early defense arguments say they went there at the 'invitation' of President Trump or were let in by police.
WASHINGTON They launched their assault on the U.S. Capitol with impunity, livestreaming their crimes and posing for photos as they breached the building’s perimeter and threatened the democratic process. Now members of the pro-Trump mob are arguing.
What s a pardon?
In a broad definition, a pardon is a governmental decision that exempts punishment from some of, or all of, a crime. Pardons are typically addressed to specific individuals, but they can also be addressed to a group.
The power to pardon and its limitations are usually spelled out in government powers. In the US, pardoning is an executive power that grants the president the option to go back and revoke legal consequences for certain types of offenses, offering protection from past crimes. Governors in almost all 50 states also have the power to issue pardons relieving people from offenses against state laws, so it s not only found in the presidency.