Sen. Mark Warner, ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said it is “extremely disturbing” if President Trump is considering pardoning himself and others close to him in connection with the federal probe examining Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“The possibility that the president is considering pardons at this early stage in these ongoing investigations is extremely disturbing,” Warner, D-Va., said in a statement. “Pardoning individuals who may have been involved would be crossing a fundamental line.”
The Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump has asked his advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members, and even himself in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
The Post said some of Trump’s lawyers are discussing the president’s authority to grant pardons and aim to figure out ways to limit or undercut Mueller’s investigation of Russia’s election interference and possible ties to the Trump campaign.
The Senate and House Intelligence Committees are also investigating Russia’s election meddling and the possibility that the Trump campaign worked with the Kremlin.
