United States President Donald Trump is considering pardoning himself, New York Times reports.
The Republican will be out of office on January 20, the day President-elect Joe Biden assumes power.
The newspaper cited two sources said to be privy to Trump discussing the clemency with his aides.
It said Trump has raised the plan with his advisers since November.
Between December 22 and 24, 2020, he approved scores of pardons, including to allies convicted for criminal offences.
The President is reportedly weighing both the legal and political implications of a self-pardon.
Trump fears perceived enemies will “use the levers of law enforcement to target him” after his exit.
It is unclear if the rumoured pardon would include a probe that might link him to the Capitol Building invasion.
Calls are growing for Trump’s impeachment over Wednesday’s attack by his supporters.
Meanwhile, a Police officer has died, increasing the death toll from the Capitol invasion to five.
Reports say US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund will step down next week.