President Donald Trump made a bold new claim on Twitter on Monday morning, saying that appointing special counsel Robert Mueller to oversee the Russia inquiry is “totally unconstitutional.”

Trump Says Appointment Of Mueller Is ‘Unconstitutional’

Trump also claimed he holds the “absolute right” to pardon himself in the probe, and again blamed Democrats for being more corrupt than him. The president cited “legal scholars” for his assertion that he can pardon himself, although legal experts have as of yet explicitly stated no such thing.

On Saturday, it was revealed several of Trump’s lawyers drafted a confidential, 20-page memo arguing the president does not have to comply with a subpoena to testify in the Russia probe, and that Trump “could not possibly have committed obstruction because he has unfettered authority over all federal investigations,” according to a New York Times report.

The Russia investigation thus far has yielded six guilty pleas, 22 indictments, over 70 combined criminal charges and one conviction. Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump’s lawyers and the former New York City mayor, has repeatedly made claims that either contradict the president or nearly openly reveal that Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russian government officials. However, Giuliani has boldly asserted in several television interviews that such actions do not constitute criminal behavior, and even falsely stated that Mueller’s probe could end by September 1. A recent memo from the special counsel suggested the investigation will likely go on for many more months.

On Sunday, Giuliani told the Huffington Post that Trump is practically immune from federal prosecution, and that he could have even shot former FBI Director James Comey and still avoid being indicted.

Giuliani also said Trump “has no need” to pardon himself because “he didn’t do anything wrong” and because such an action would likely lead to the president’s impeachment.

Read more about:

Get the free uPolitics mobile app for the latest political news and videos

iPhone Android

Leave a comment