Trump: ‘I have right to pardon myself’

US President Donald Trump has claimed he has the “absolute right” to pardon himself in the Russia collusion affair.

Mr Trump’s comments on Twitter came after lawyer Rudy Giuliani played down the possibility that the president could pardon himself, suggesting he might have that authority but would be unwise to useit. “Pardoninghimself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment,” Mr Giuliani, a member of Mr Trump’s legal team said. “And he has no need to do it, he’s done nothing wrong.”

On Twitter, Mr Trump said: “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?”

It stems from an investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump team and Russian officials in the election campaign that brought the president to power. Mr Trump says there was no collusion and that the investigation is a “witch hunt”.