Sessions dodges questions on potential Trump pardons
Sessions on whether Trump could pardon those implicated in Russia probe right now: "I would not be able to answer that at this moment." pic.twitter.com/l2pxJWzOsX
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 14, 2017
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday repeatedly dodged questions about whether the president is able to pardon members of his campaign and administration who may be under scrutiny in the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Sessions angered Democrats at a Tuesday House Judiciary Committee hearing when he repeatedly dodged questions about possible pardons by Trump.
“It would be premature for me to comment on that,” Sessions said when asked if Trump could pardon his children, administration officials, and campaign staff before any charges are made in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of possible collusion between Trump campaign staff and Russia. {mosads}
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) also pressed Sessions on whether Trump should be able to fire Mueller.
“I’m not able to express an opinion on that at this point,” the attorney general responded.
He said he’s not able to comment on the possibility of Trump pardoning George Papadopoulos — a former foreign policy adviser for the campaign who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI — or Trump’s family members, but noted that the “has the power to pardon, there’s no doubt about that.”
He added that it is important that the investigation is conducted without interference from the White House.
“Investigations have to be conducted by the appropriate law enforcement officers without fear and favor, without politics or bias,” he said.
But Deutch was not satisfied but the answers.
“You said when you started your testimony today that there is nothing more important than advancing the rule of law, and when you answer the way you have, it suggests that the rule of law is crumbling at our feet,” the Florida Democrat said.
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