Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., took aim at President Trump Tuesday over his claim that he has the ability to pardon himself. Trump cannot obstruct justice, Schumer said, adding the president is “dead wrong” and isn’t a king.
“Despite what the president and his allies may feel about his authority or his absolution from legal repercussions, the Constitution and the founding principles of our country tell us he’s dead wrong,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Mr. President, President Trump — we are not a monarchy. You are not a king. We are a constitutional democracy, so act like it.”
The New York Democrat called the notion that Trump can pardon himself “incredible.” Trump made the pronouncement on Twitter Monday.
As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018
“Is that incredible? Is that incredible?” Schumer repeated before saying Trump is hypocritical for calling throughout the 2016 campaign for a special counsel to investigate Hillary Clinton.
“The two-facedness, the hypocrisy of saying Hillary should have it but now it’s unconstitutional [now] that it applies to him,” Schumer said. How can the American people tolerate that kind of thinking in a president?”
Trump’s claim came Monday after his attorney Rudy Giuliani said Sunday morning that Trump probably could pardon himself even though he has not done anything wrong and wouldn’t have to.
While Senate Republicans were not sure whether the president could actually do it, they were left to wonder why the president and his legal team was talking about it in the first place.
