'No One Is Above The Law': Paul Ryan Says Trump Should 'Obviously' Not Pardon Himself
- 6 years ago
Paul Ryan on Wednesday weighed in on the possibility of President Trump pardoning himself.
House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday weighed in on whether President Trump can or should pardon himself. He was asked at a press briefing, "Do you believe that the President has the power to pardon himself?" Ryan replied, "I don't know the technical answer to that question, but I think, obviously, the answer is he shouldn't, and no one is above the law." The matter was brought to the forefront on Monday when Trump tweeted about special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. "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 wrote on Twitter. Not long after, a reporter asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, "Why does he think that? And does he also agree with Rudy Giuliani, his lawyer, that a pardon for himself would be unthinkable and would lead to immediate impeachment?" "Thankfully, the President hasn't done anything wrong and wouldn't have any need for a pardon," Sanders responded.
House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday weighed in on whether President Trump can or should pardon himself. He was asked at a press briefing, "Do you believe that the President has the power to pardon himself?" Ryan replied, "I don't know the technical answer to that question, but I think, obviously, the answer is he shouldn't, and no one is above the law." The matter was brought to the forefront on Monday when Trump tweeted about special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. "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 wrote on Twitter. Not long after, a reporter asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, "Why does he think that? And does he also agree with Rudy Giuliani, his lawyer, that a pardon for himself would be unthinkable and would lead to immediate impeachment?" "Thankfully, the President hasn't done anything wrong and wouldn't have any need for a pardon," Sanders responded.