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Home / World

Giuliani says Trump probably has the power to pardon himself

By Joel Achenbach, Ashley Parker
Washington Post·
3 Jun, 2018 06:26 PM4 mins to read

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Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, said there would be a backlash if Trump did try to pardon himself. Photo / AP file

Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, said there would be a backlash if Trump did try to pardon himself. Photo / AP file

US President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said that the President's constitutional powers probably include the ability to pardon himself.

But he said such a move would surely incite political blowback and lead to impeachment proceedings.

Giuliani, appearing on ABC, was asked about a letter sent by Trump's legal team early this year to Special Counsel Robert Mueller saying the President can't be forced to testify as part of Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The 20-page letter asserted that Trump has unlimited power over federal investigations and could terminate any investigation "or even exercise his power to pardon." The existence of the letter was first reported by the New York Times.

When ABC's George Stephanopoulos asked Giuliani whether Trump could pardon himself, the former prosecutor - who was not on Trump's legal team when the letter was written - laughed and then said probably so.

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"He probably does," he said. "He has no intention of pardoning himself, but he probably - not to say he can't."

The Constitution, in Article II, states that the President "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States."

"I think it would probably get answered by, 'Gosh that's what the Constitution says, if you want to change it, change it.' I think the political ramifications of that would be tough," Giuliani said.

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On NBC, Giuliani framed the pardon question as purely hypothetical and politically implausible.

"It's not going to happen. It's a hypothetical point," he told host Chuck Todd. He went on to describe such a move as "unthinkable" and said it would probably lead immediately to impeachment.

This is not the first time the issue of the President's ability to pardon himself has come up. As early as last northern summer, as Mueller's probe proceeded, the President began quietly asking advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members and even himself. His lawyers at the time began discussing his pardoning powers as well.

Lawyers for the President of the United States are close to arguing — or actually are arguing — that he cannot obstruct justice because he is justice. He cannot interfere in an investigation because it is "his" investigation! Sounds more like a monarchy. https://t.co/dWFj7t9K8D

— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) June 3, 2018

Giuliani said it remains an open question whether the President will testify in the investigation. He said that Trump wants to testify but that Giuliani and his team are leaning against recommending that.

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"This is the President's decision ultimately," he said. "He believes he's telling the truth. He is telling the truth. He believes justice should win out." But, Giuliani added: " I'm a lawyer ... It's not that simple."

Later in the same programme, former Governor Chris Christie, (R), dismissed the argument put forward by the Trump legal team that the President inherently cannot obstruct justice.

"It's an outrageous claim. It's wrong," Christie, a former US Attorney, said. "They were trying to make a broad argument. Lawyers do that all the time in briefs even to court."

JUST IN: Does Pres. Trump have the power to pardon himself?

"He's not, but he probably does," Rudy Giuliani tells @GStephanopoulos. "He has no intention of pardoning himself, but that doesn't say he can't." https://t.co/YQ29ClaVMa pic.twitter.com/jDXl1jOnuV

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 3, 2018

Trump engaged in jabs at the Justice Department via Twitter, going so far as to put "Justice" in quotes. The President expressed dismay that, when still a candidate, he wasn't told that authorities were probing Paul Manafort, who was hired as Trump's campaign chairman. Manafort has been charged by Mueller with multiple offences, including money laundering, conspiracy and bank and tax fraud.

"As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldn't the FBI or Department of 'Justice' have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!" Trump wrote.

He added: "Paul Manafort came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time (he represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole & many others over the years), but we should have been told that Comey and the boys were doing a number on him, and he wouldn't have been hired!"

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