Some conservatives have preemptively urged Trump to pardon family members and associates caught up in Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia. But it's very unlikely that the DOJ Pardon Attorney's office would play a role in any decision to issue a pardon besides creating a formal record after the fact, unless Trump wanted the advice. The Pardon Attorney's Office's public mission statement says "all requests for executive clemency for federal offenses are directed to the Pardon Attorney for investigation and review." "Ultimately, we serve a support role to the President," Mills wrote. Trump cannot pardon anyone convicted of state offenses and most civil offenses, and he can't preemptively pardon someone before they commit a crime, Morrison explained.

Source: CNN March 28, 2018 21:56 UTC