perspective from "the washington post" nick who shares a by line on this pardon story. so nick, based on your reporting, what did the president actually say about pardoning officials? >> so the president said to aids who were worried about both the pace of the contracting process, the procurement process, the environmental concerns as well as the imminent domain issues involved with taking large amounts of private land along the border when they express those worries, the president said don't worry, i'll pardon you and this was, you know, and we were told this by people who were in those meetings with the president at the time. >> did they take it as a joke? >> they did not take it as a joke. in fact, the president has said this repeatedly to his aids and to visitors at the white house