I can pardon myself, but have done nothing wrong: Trump
What's the story
President Trump has done nothing wrong and therefore he doesn't need to pardon himself from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, White House said.
This comes after Trump tweeted he has the "absolute right" to pardon himself, slamming the opposition Democratic party for the witch-hunt against him.
He also alleged Mueller's appointment for investigating Russia's possible interference in the 2016 Presidential Elections is "unconstitutional".
Twitter Post
I I have the absolute right to pardon myself: Trump
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018
Politically tough decision
Trump's personal attorney feels the decision would be politically tough
It was the first time Trump asserted the power to pardon himself.
A day earlier, Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said that the President does have the power to pardon himself, but that would be politically very tough.
"I think the political ramifications of that would be tough. Pardoning other people is one thing. Pardoning yourself is another," Giuliani said.
Twitter Post
Unlike the Democrats, I have done nothing wrong
The appointment of the Special Counsel is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Despite that, we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018
Unresolved question
Constitutional scholars say the decision of presidential self-pardon is unresolved
According to The Wall Street Journal, constitutional scholars say the question of presidential self-pardon remains unresolved.
"It's an abuse of the pardon power for the president to self-pardon. It violates constitutional prohibitions on self-dealing, and to use the pardon power to eviscerate checks on the presidency, that's also an abuse of the pardon power," Gillian Metzger, a constitutional law scholar at Columbia University said.
Virtual Monarchy
Senator Schumer condemns Trump's tweet
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Chuck Schumer, slammed Trump's tweet, asserting that the President has no such power.
"First, of course, no President has the power to pardon himself or herself. If they did, the presidency would function above and outside the law," Schumer said on the Senate floor on Monday.
He added that if a President can pardon himself, it's virtually a monarchy.