No Abuse Of Pardon Power for Cover Up

We’re increasingly concerned that President Trump may abuse his pardon authority to obstruct investigations and protect wrongdoers—possibly including himself—in order to cover up criminal actions. Therefore, we call upon every member of the House and Senate to explicitly warn President Trump of severe consequences—including impeachment and removal from office—should he abuse his pardon authority.

The Washington Post reported: “Senate Republicans on Monday warned President Trump, with varying degrees of alarm, against entertaining the prospect of pardoning himself of any federal crime — once again forcing members of his own party into an uncomfortable position as the president openly pondered another controversial move in connection with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation.”

The Post added: “Trump and one of his attorneys, Rudolph W. Giuliani, have argued that the president has expansive pardon powers but claimed he wouldn’t exercise that authority as Trump again openly vented about the Russia probe. That right to pardon was ‘absolute,’ Trump insisted....”

The Post quoted Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) saying, “There’s no doubt that the president is not above the law,” and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) echoing that “[the Constitution] doesn’t give carte blanche freedom to a president.”

The article also quoted Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), “If I were president and somebody, some lawyer told me that I could do that, I’d hire a new lawyer,”  and noted that Sen. Grassley “is leading his own investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign [and] also took issue with Trump’s claim about his pardon powers.

(See The Washington Post: ‘A tremendous abuse’: Senate Republicans warn Trump not to pardon himself”  June 4, 2018)