Trump tweet claims he has ‘ complete power to pardon’
President’s latest flurry of early- morning posts takes aim at familiar foes
“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.” President Trump, in a tweet
A combative President Trump, reflecting growing pressure from the FBI’s investigation of possible Russian ties to his campaign, issued a tweetstorm Saturday claiming a president has the “complete power to pardon.”
Trump also railed against “illegal” leaks from the “Amazon Washington Post,” referring to the newspaper owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; called for legal action against Hillary Clinton and former FBI director James Comey; and declared Obamacare “dead.”
The 10 blasts over a two- hour period began at 6: 33 a. m. with a tweet complaining about an “intelligence leak” from The Washington Post about Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding the purported contents of his meeting with the Russian ambassador, based on U. S. communication intercepts. “These illegal leaks, like Comey’s, must stop!” Trump tweeted.
He also blasted the “Failing New York Times,” the same newspaper to which he gave an exclusive interview earlier in the week, saying it foiled an attempt to kill Abu Bakr Al- Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State.
Only one tweet, about his plans to commission the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, struck a traditional presidential tone. Most were tied to the investigation of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, particularly an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller.
One came after reports by the Times and the Post that his legal team is looking into a president’s legal capacity on pardons for his family, associates and even himself.
While legal experts say the extent of a president to pardon himself is not clearcut, Trump begs to differ: “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.”
Also, foreshadowing the week ahead, when his son Donald Trump Jr. has been invited to meet with congressional investigators about his meeting with a Rus- sian lawyer, Trump said his son “openly gave his e- mails to the media & authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e- mails!”
He also leaned on a familiar device of claiming broad support for his views: “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?”
Finally, with the fate of the GOP health bill hanging on a procedural vote Monday in the Senate, Trump stepped up pressure on his party: “The Republican Senators must step up to the plate and, after 7 years, vote to Repeal and Replace. Next, Tax Reform and Infrastructure. WIN!”
Then he tweeted this: “ObamaCare is dead and the Democrats are obstructionists, no ideas or votes, only obstruction. It is solely up to the 52 Republican Senators!”