Donald Trump has said he has “complete power” to issue pardons, an assertion that comes amid investigations into Russian interference in last year’s presidential election.
The subject of pardons is one of many topics that appears to be occupying the president’s mind.
In a flurry of 10 tweets, Mr Trump commented about pardons, former presidential rival Hillary Clinton, his eldest son Donald Jr, health care, the USS Gerald Ford, the attorney general and other issues.
While all agree the U. S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us.FAKE NEWS
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2017
Mr Trump wrote in one of his 10 messages: “While all agree the U. S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us. FAKE NEWS.”
The Washington Post has reported that Mr Trump has inquired about his authority to pardon aides, relatives or even himself in connection with the widening investigation into Russian interference in the election and whether any Trump associates were involved.
One of Mr Trump’s lawyers, Jay Sekulow, said the president has not discussed the issue of pardons with his outside legal team.
A new INTELLIGENCE LEAK from the Amazon Washington Post,this time against A.G. Jeff Sessions.These illegal leaks, like Comey's, must stop!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2017
Speaking to reporters at the site of the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, he said that Mr Trump’s private legal team is “not researching it because it’s not an issue”.
Mr Sekulow said: “I don’t know where this came from. There is nothing to pardon,” adding that “what’s going on in Washington is an attack on the president”.
Mr Trump remains furious over multiple investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
So many people are asking why isn't the A.G. or Special Council looking at the many Hillary Clinton or Comey crimes. 33,000 e-mails deleted?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2017
He tweeted that people are asking why what he calls “crimes” by election opponent Hillary Clinton and former FBI director James Comey are not being investigated.
Next week, Donald Jr, Mr Trump’s son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner and his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will appear before Senate committees investigating Russian meddling.
Mr Trump defended his son in one of the tweets, saying he “openly gave his e-mails to the media & authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e-mails!”
My son Donald openly gave his e-mails to the media & authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e-mails!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2017
Donald Jr has become a focus of the investigation after it was revealed that he, Mr Kushner and Mr Manafort met Russian representatives at Trump Tower in June 2016.
Mr Trump Jr later released email exchanges concerning the meeting on Twitter, after learning that The New York Times was about to publish them.
The FBI investigated Mrs Clinton for using a private email server as secretary of state.
She turned over thousands of pages of emails to the government, but deleted thousands of others that she said were personal or unrelated to her work as the nation’s top diplomat.
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