Ryan: ‘Obviously’ Trump shouldn’t pardon himself

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Wednesday that “obviously” President Trump should not ever pardon himself and declared that “no one is above the law.”

Earlier this week, Trump tweeted that he had the “absolute right” to pardon himself if he’s indicted as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 presidential election.

{mosads}Asked at a news conference whether that would be a wise move for the president, Ryan replied: “I think obviously the answer is he shouldn’t and no one is above the law.”

A day earlier, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told also reporters Trump shouldn’t pardon himself, while dismissing the likelihood that the legal question will ever come up.

“I don’t think the president needs any advice on pardoning himself. He obviously knows that’s not something he would or should do,” McConnell said.

Trump tweeted Monday that “numerous legal scholars” have said he has the right to pardon himself, “but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?”

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