Scot Dutchy wrote:Well Trump is asking about how can he pardon himself and his family. This is getting weirder and weirder.
Donald Trump asks lawyers about powers to pardon himself and his children in Russia probe, report reveals
President's team may be seeking to control and block Mueller's Russia investigation
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.
"...according to people familiar with the effort" -- the effort to explore ways to limit or undercut special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, building a case against what they allege are his conflicts of interest and discussing his authority to grant pardons? O.k., so who is a person "familiar with the effort" to do those things?
Also, Mueller's investigation is into collusion between Trumpians and Russian officials regarding the election. General "conflicts of interest" are not involved in that investigation.
That being said, though, who in the world would be in a position to know that President Trump's lawyers are exploring ways to limit or undercut Mueller? Who would be in a position to know that Trump was discussing with lawyers his authority to grant pardons? Any communications with lawyers would be confidential and privileged. The lawyers "familiar" with this "effort" would be committing a breach of ethics to disclose it, bare minimum. Did Trump say to some confidants that he was doing this? Why in the world would he do that? If he was exploring ways to "undercut" Mueller, and to pardon himself and others, why would he blather on about it?
If this is a person who is involved in the administration - a cabinet member? A secretary/administrative assistant? Public relations person? Who was it that was in the room and heard this, and went ahead and told the Independent?
Trump has asked his advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members and even himself in connection with the probe, according to one of those people.
According to "one of those people?" LOL. Not -- "...unnamed sources close to the president..." or "unnamed administration sources..." - no, the Independent is citing "persons familiar with the effort."
A second person said Trump’s lawyers have been discussing the president’s pardoning powers among themselves.
So, a second person said Trump's lawyers have been discussing the President's pardoning powers among themselves. Oh, so this person is in the law offices of Trump's lawyers, and heard them? Or, they were hanging out with this "second person" and said "hey, we're lawyers and we're bound by confidentiality and privileged communications ethics, but just so you know, Trump told us to research whether he can pardon himself and others, and he wants us to figure out how to undercut Bob Mueller." What in the world is happening?
Trump’s legal team declined to comment on the issue.
Right, because whatever they're doing, it's confidential and privileged information, and even if they're not discussing those issues, they aren't going to make a comment.
But one adviser said the president has simply expressed a curiosity in understanding the reach of his pardoning authority, as well as the limits of Mueller’s investigation.