JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump claimed Monday [6-4-18] that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller is ‘totally unconstitutional’ and asserted that he had the ‘absolute right’ to pardon himself, citing ‘numerous legal experts.’ The president added, in a pair of tweets, ‘but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?’ The U.S. Constitution, unlike many state governments, centralizes prosecutorial authority under the president. That means he could forbid the Justice Department from investigating or pursuing criminal charges against anyone, including himself, so he may never reach the point of having to pardon himself. Any move in that direction, however, could provoke a political clash with Congress. Mr. Mueller is investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to boost his candidacy in 2016 and whether the president obstructed justice by trying to shut the probe down. Moscow has denied meddling in the campaign and Mr. Trump has denied wrongdoing and labeled the probe a ‘never ending Witch Hunt.’”
-Vivian Salama and Jess Bravin, “Trump Asserts ‘Absolute Right’ to Pardon Himself,” The Wall Street Journal, June 4, 2018 1:56 pm