Trump Tweets 'Absolute Right' To Pardon Himself
WASHINGTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - President Donald Trump says he has "absolute right to PARDON myself" but says has "done nothing wrong" in the Russia probe.
In a tweet Monday, Trump weighed in on the question of whether he could pardon himself should the special counsel find he interfered in the investigation into Russia meddling in the 2016 election.
Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, in television interviews Sunday, suggested Trump might have that authority to pardon himself but would be unwise to use it.
Giuliani told NBC's "Meet the Press": "Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment."
Trump, in his tweet, declared: "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?"
Giuliani, added, Trump has done nothing wrong and has no need to consider pardoning himself.
Giuliani's comments come as the White House sharpens its legal and political defenses against the special counsel Russia probe.
He made it clear Trump's legal team would combat any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury.
President Trump was in Dallas last Thursday for a GOP fundraiser.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)