President Trump asserted Monday that he has the power to pardon himself, but insisted he wouldn’t need to because he hasn’t done anything wrong.
“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!” Trump tweeted.
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
Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, argued Sunday that the Constitution gives Trump the power to pardon himself, a question that has split legal scholars. While making his rounds on the Sunday morning news shows, Giuliani said Trump has “no intention” of pardoning himself and that such a move could lead to his immediate impeachment.
“He has no intention of pardoning himself, but he probably — not to say he can’t,” Giuliani said.
“He has no need to do it, he’s done nothing wrong,” he added.
Trump’s tweet and Giuliani’s comments follow reports that Trump’s legal team sent a letter to Mueller in January arguing that the president cannot be charged with obstruction of justice and should not be interviewed by special counsel investigators.
It’s unclear if Trump plans to sit down with investigators any time soon.
[Related: Law Prof: Trump can pre-pardon all in Russia probe, kill Mueller’s inquest]
