On Sunday, President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani dropped a bombshell, claiming the president can pardon himself. On Monday morning Trump doubled down in a tweet.
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
According to The Daily Wire:
President Trump took to Twitter on Monday morning to unequivocally assert that he has the “absolute right” to pardon himself should Robert Mueller’s “witch hunt” attempt to bring charges against him. But, the president added, he shouldn’t have to because he’s done “nothing 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?” said Trump. “In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!”
Trump’s comments were in part prompted by the publication by the New York Times of a confidential letter sent by the president’s lawyers in January to Mueller arguing that the president’s broad executive authority means he cannot be charged with obstruction of justice. The Times reports:
“President Trump’s lawyers have for months quietly waged a campaign to keep the special counsel from trying to force him to answer questions in the investigation into whether he obstructed justice, asserting that he cannot be compelled to testify and arguing in a confidential letter that he could not possibly have committed obstruction because he has unfettered authority over all federal investigations.”
Trump’s lawyer has continued to state that he will not use this power but they are putting the possibility into the spotlight. Of course, the only reason to use this would be if criminal charges are brought.
