Trump's lawyers says president can probably pardon himself, but won't
- 6 years ago
Now for a look at stories making headlines around the world and we start in the United States.
Amid a probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election,…. Donald Trump's lawyer says the president may have the power to pardon himself, but does not plan to do so.
For more on this and other international news we turn to Ro Aram…
Aram… what does this mean?
Well Mark, Rudy Giuliani's comments on Sunday came after a letter was sent to the special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the Russia probe, from Trump's legal team.
It was published by The New York Times over the weekend and states that Trump's lawyers would contest any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury regarding the Russia probe.
It also states that the president has the absolute power to terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon himself if he so desired.
Trump's campaign team is being investigated for possible collusion with Moscow to win the 2016 election.
Mueller's probe is also looking into whether Trump tried to criminally obstruct the inquiry, especially after he fired his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and ex-FBI director James Comey, who was also looking into the case.
Both Trump and Russia deny any wrongdoing.
Speaking in an NBC interview, Giuliani noted that a self-pardon would have serious political ramifications, while insisting Trump's innocence.
"The president of the United States pardoning himself would just be unthinkable and it would lead to, probably, an immediate impeachment. You know, you get your house now, Senate would be under tremendous, tremendous pressure. President Trump has no need to do that -- he didn't do anything wrong."
It remains unclear if Trump will pardon himself or if he actually has the power to do so.
It has never been attempted by any U.S. president and the Justice Department under the Nixon administration said it was not allowed.
However, others argue that the U.S. Constitution doesn't explicitly say the president cannot pardon him or herself.
But it also doesn't say that he or she can.
Amid a probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election,…. Donald Trump's lawyer says the president may have the power to pardon himself, but does not plan to do so.
For more on this and other international news we turn to Ro Aram…
Aram… what does this mean?
Well Mark, Rudy Giuliani's comments on Sunday came after a letter was sent to the special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the Russia probe, from Trump's legal team.
It was published by The New York Times over the weekend and states that Trump's lawyers would contest any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury regarding the Russia probe.
It also states that the president has the absolute power to terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon himself if he so desired.
Trump's campaign team is being investigated for possible collusion with Moscow to win the 2016 election.
Mueller's probe is also looking into whether Trump tried to criminally obstruct the inquiry, especially after he fired his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and ex-FBI director James Comey, who was also looking into the case.
Both Trump and Russia deny any wrongdoing.
Speaking in an NBC interview, Giuliani noted that a self-pardon would have serious political ramifications, while insisting Trump's innocence.
"The president of the United States pardoning himself would just be unthinkable and it would lead to, probably, an immediate impeachment. You know, you get your house now, Senate would be under tremendous, tremendous pressure. President Trump has no need to do that -- he didn't do anything wrong."
It remains unclear if Trump will pardon himself or if he actually has the power to do so.
It has never been attempted by any U.S. president and the Justice Department under the Nixon administration said it was not allowed.
However, others argue that the U.S. Constitution doesn't explicitly say the president cannot pardon him or herself.
But it also doesn't say that he or she can.