Trump could still pardon people implicated in the Russia investigation

With Mueller’s probe ending, a key question remains: Will the president pardon anyone implicated in the Russia investigation? He can pardon anyone implicated in the Russia investigation — except, perhaps, himself. Almost every major special counsel investigation has resulted in pardons — some even many years after the investigation wrapped up. So it would actually be out of the ordinary if no one convicted in the Russia investigation is ever pardoned. But Trump could open himself up to obstruction of justice charges if he issues pardons for people before Mueller’s work is over. Pardons usually come at the end of an investigation, and they’re usually issued at the end of a president’s term or by a subsequent president, perhaps because they are so unpopular.