Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., doesn’t want President Trump to pardon Paul Manafort from charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller after reports surfaced that one of Trump’s top attorneys raised the idea.
Scott said on CBS’ “Face The Nation” that Manafort should be forced to go through the criminal process and face the charges without interference from the White House.
Manafort has been charged with fraud and money laundering charges for his financial dealings in the Ukraine and has become a central figure in Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
“I do not,” Scott said, when asked if he thinks Manafort should be pardoned.
He added, in regards to former national security adviser Michael Flynn, “I think it’s important that the White House be clear on this as it relates to not treating either person differently. The fact of the matter is keeping the pardon off the table is a necessary part of the process. I would be disappointed if President Trump were to pardon either one of these individuals.”
Reports surfaced last week that John Dowd, one of Trump’s top attorneys on his legal team for the Mueller investigation, raised the idea of possibly pardoning Manafort and Flynn in order to keep them from talking from Mueller.
Neither pardon happened, and Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to Mueller’s investigators.
The White House has denied Trump is considering any pardons in the investigation.
Scott added he doesn’t believe legislation to protect Mueller is necessary. Some Democratic lawmakers — and a few Republican ones — have proposed passing a bill that would legally protect Mueller and allow him to finish his investigation.
“I don’t know that we need legislation to move forward. I don’t know that there’s a single senator that would come out in favor of stopping the investigation going forward,” he said.
