[Published: Monday June 04 2018]
 Trump 'could pardon himself over Russia', says Giuliani
WASHINGTON 4 Jun (ANA) - Donald Trump probably has the power to pardon himself in the Russia collusion affair but does not intend to do so, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani says.
A special counsel is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 election, and whether Mr Trump obstructed justice.
The question of self-pardon arose after the New York Times published a letter to the counsel from Mr Trump's lawyers.
In it they say he has absolute power as US legal chief to end investigations, or "even exercise his power to pardon".
Such absolute powers, they argue, mean that he could not have obstructed justice in any case.
He appeared on ABC's This Week programme and was asked whether Mr Trump had the power to pardon himself.
Mr Giuliani, the head of Mr Trump's legal team, said he "probably does", but added: "He has no intention of pardoning himself."
He went on: "I think the political ramifications of that would be tough. Pardoning other people is one thing. Pardoning yourself is another."
Speaking on CNN on Sunday, House Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said that no president should pardon himself.(ANA)
FA/ANA/4 June 2018---------
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