Trump team is finding ways to pardon family amid Russia probe

US President Donald Trump’s legal defence team is exploring ways to grant presidential pardons to his family members and aides amid reports that Special Counsel Robert Mueller was looking into their finances as part of his Russia probe, according to a media report.

Trump has asked his advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members and even himself in connection with the probe, The Washington Post quoted one of the people familiar with the effort.

Trump is fighting allegations his presidential campaign colluded with Russians to get him elected last year. Last month reports emerged that Trump was considering firing Mueller, drawing criticism from both Democrat and Republican lawmakers.

According to the Post, a second person said Trump’s lawyers have been discussing the president’s pardoning powers among themselves.

“Some of President Trump’s lawyers are exploring ways to limit or undercut special counsel Robert S Mueller III’s Russia investigation, building a case against what they allege are his conflicts of interest and discussing the president’s authority to grant pardons, according to people familiar with the effort,” the report said.

Reacting strongly to the report, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in a late night statement called for full disclosure of the presidential pardons.

“Tomorrow, in response to a report that President Trump is considering pardoning his aides, or his relatives, or even himself to avoid potential criminal charges, I will be formally calling upon the White House Counsel to publicly disclose all presidential pardons,” Krishnamoorthi said.

“Our founders established a presidential power to pardon to protect the American people from their government, not for a president to protect himself or his associates from justice,” he said. —