U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering pardons for two or three American soldiers charged with war crimes, a move he also said would be controversial but justified because they had been treated “unfairly.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he had not decided yet on the cases but may wait until the accused stood trial before deciding whether to grant them pardons.
He did not identify which cases he was reviewing.
President Trump had asked the Justice Department for paperwork on several high-profile war crimes cases in preparation for possible pardons to be announced on or around the U.S. Memorial Day holiday honoring fallen troops.
This year’s holiday is to be observed on May 27.