Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is urging lawmakers to “make it clear” to President Trump that pardoning any of his associates or himself would be “unacceptable,” and said Congress should ensure special counsel Robert Mueller’s independence is protected.
Warner’s comments come after a federal grand jury indicted former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his former business associate Rick Gates. George Papadopoulos, a former campaign foreign policy adviser, also pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians, the special counsel’s office announced Monday.
The indictment against Manafort and Gates, and Papadopoulos’ case, were unsealed Monday.
“Today’s indictments of two top Trump campaign officials, including former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, is a significant and sobering step in what will be a complex and likely lengthy investigation by the Special Counsel,” Warner said in a statement Monday. “That is why it is imperative that Congress take action now to protect the independence of the Special Counsel, wherever or however high his investigation may lead.
“Members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, must also make clear to the President that issuing pardons to any of his associates or to himself would be unacceptable, and result in immediate, bipartisan action by Congress,” the Virginia Democrat added.
A federal grand jury indicted Manafort and Gates on 12 counts, including conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to launder money.
According to the indictment, Manafort laundered more than $18 million, and Gates transferred more than $3 million from offshore accounts to others he controlled.
Both Manafort and Gates surrendered to federal authorities Monday morning, and they will make their initial appearance in court at 1:30 p.m.
In addition to unsealing Manafort and Gates’ indictment, the special counsel’s office also unsealed Papadopoulos’ case. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty at the beginning of the month to making false statements to the FBI during an interview in January about his contacts with foreign nationals connected with senior Russian government officials.
Warner said the revelations about Papadopoulos’ contacts with Russians are the latest that “remain a cause for deep concern” for lawmakers.
“This is just the latest in a series of undisclosed contacts, misleading public statements, potentially compromising information, and highly questionable actions from the time of the Trump campaign that together, remain a cause for deep concern and continued investigation,” he said.
The Senate Intelligence Committee is one of numerous congressional committees investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election and alleged ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia.
Though the charges against Manafort, Gates, and Papadopoulos are the first stemming from Mueller’s Russia probe, some have questioned whether Trump would issue pardons to those who are part of the investigation into Russian meddling.
The Washington Post reported in July the president asked advisers about his ability to pardon aides, family members and himself, and Trump has tweeted about his power to issue pardons.
“While all agree the U.S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us.FAKE NEWS,” Trump tweeted July 22.
