Trump: I have absolute right to pardon myself

DONALD TRUMP has insisted he has an “absolute right” to pardon himself and called the special counsel leading the Russia inquiry “totally unconstitutional” in an escalated attack on those investigating him.

The US president suggested he would not use the power because he had “done nothing wrong”, but the declaration will be seen as a shot across the bows to those looking into obstruction of justice claims.

Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump’s lawyer, went a step further by saying even if the president shot James Comey, the former FBI director he sacked, he could not be prosecuted. The attempts to play up Mr Trump’s constitutional power come as Robert Mueller, the special counsel, looks into whether the president obstructed justice by trying to influence the Russia investigation.

A leaked memo from Mr Trump’s legal team showed they were arguing that it is impossible for the president to obstruct justice as he is America’s chief law enforcement officer, and therefore would be obstructing himself.

Mr Trump tweeted yesterday: “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!”

Mr Trump later said: “The appointment of the Special Councel [sic] is totally unconstitutional! Despite that, we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong!” Over the weekend Mr Giuliani said that while Mr Trump could face impeachment – a political process to remove him from office – he could not be indicted or subpoenaed. He told the Huffington Post: “I don’t know how you can indict while he’s in office. No matter what it is.”

Mr Trump’s pardon statement prompted anger on Capitol Hill.

Chuck Grassley, the Republican senator for Iowa, said: “If I were President of the United States and I had a lawyer that told me I could pardon myself, I think I would hire a new lawyer.”

Theresa May has told Mr Trump his decision to apply tariffs to UK and EU steel and aluminium imports was “unjustified and disappointing” in a 30-minute phone call yesterday. She stressed the need for “open and fair trade across the world”.

The two leaders agreed to discuss the issue when they meet at the G7 summit in Canada later this week.