It is not clear how many cases the president is personally considering for either a presidential pardon or commuting a sentence, but sources say the number is roughly half a dozen.

Wednesday when Trump’s latest exercise of the power came earlierwhen he commuted the life sentence of Alice Marie Johnson , 63, who has served more than two decades in prison on first-time drug and money laundering offenses.

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Johnson’s case had been championed by reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, who met with Trump last week to ask for clemency on Johnson's behalf.

White House officials say Trump is considering cases involving people he believes have been treated poorly by the criminal justice system.

Trump has most frequently used his clemency powers on political allies. Last week, he pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who was convicted for making illegal campaign contributions. Trump has also pardoned I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former top aide to former Vice President Dick Cheney, and former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Other pardons have been high-profiles cases, such as his pardon of the late boxer Jack Johnson.

The president said last week he is considering shortening the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), who was convicted for a litany of corruption charges and removed from office. He also said he may pardon lifestyle guru and businesswoman Martha Stewart, who was imprisoned for lying to investigators in an insider trading case.

Trump even raised the prospect of a self-pardon earlier this week, a comment that sent shockwaves throughout Washington.

Those moves have prompted fears among critics that Trump could use his pardoning powers to help associates who have been drawn into the special counsel’s probe into Russia’s 2016 election meddling.

"George is loyal to the truth. He has been through a lot. He is loyal to his country. He believed in Trump and I believe in Trump, having access to full information and awareness right now to know he deserves a pardon,” Mangiante said Wednesday on CNN, arguing Papadopoulos had been “set up" by federal investigators.

White House officials have denied that Trump is only considering clemency for the rich and famous, saying he is considering more cases like Alice Marie Johnson’s as well.

“The president looks at each case individually to see if something wrong has been done or whether mercy should be given,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday . “That's what he's done and that's what he'll continue to do in the future."

The White House has also faced criticism that Trump has gone outside the traditional pardon process, which is run out of the Justice Department.