DONALD TRUMP is reportedly planning to pardon himself during his final few days in office.
According to the New York Times, the President has asked his aides what consequences he might face - both legally and politically - should he decide to do so.
It isn't known whether he has broached the idea with his aides before or after hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol Building on Wednesday in an attempt to stop Congress certifying Joe Biden's election victory.
If he went through with it, "one of the most extraordinary and untested uses of presidential power in American history," writes the Times.
"Mr. Trump has shown signs that his level of interest in pardoning himself goes beyond idle musings. He has long maintained he has the power to pardon himself, and his polling of aides' views is typically a sign that he is preparing to follow through on his aims.
"He has also become increasingly convinced that his perceived enemies will use the levers of law enforcement to target him after he leaves office."
Presidents typically use the last few days they have in office to pardon individuals who have fallen foul of the law, often those who have helped the president's administration in some way.
But no president has ever pardoned himself.
The legitimacy of prospective self-clemency has never been tested in the justice system, and legal experts are reportedly divided about whether the courts would recognise it.
"They agree a presidential self-pardon could create a dangerous new precedent for presidents to unilaterally declare they are above the law and to insulate themselves from being held accountable for any crimes they committed in office," the article reads.
Trump is set to leave office on January 20 when Mr Biden is officially inaugurated, though Congress is reportedly looking to impeach the president in the wake of this week's Capitol Building saga and invoke the 25th Amendment, which would leave Vice President Mike Pence in charge until Biden takes over.
