President Donald Trump has been telling White House aides over the past few weeks to apologize on his last day in office, the New York Times reported on Thursday.
Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman of the newspaper say the president who is now under siege for instigating what became a violent and deadly uprising on US Capitol Wednesday, may have cause for increased interest.
“The discussions between Mr. Trump and his aides about forgiveness came before he put pressure on Georgian officials over the weekend to help reverse the election results or his instigation of the Capitol riot. Trump allies believe both episodes increased Mr. Trump’s criminal exposure. “
No president has ever tried to forgive himself. It would be “a move that would mark one of the most extraordinary and untested uses of the president’s power in American history.”
Trump reportedly enjoyed the riot scenes.
When the aides called on Mr Trump to deliver a harsh condemnation on Wednesday and he declined that advice, White House attorney Pat A. Cipollone warned Mr Trump that he could be at legal risk over the insurrection as he did had asked his followers to march to the Capitol and “fight” beforehand, ”the Times notes. “The President came to the White House aides to enjoy the scenes on television.”
Trump has previously claimed that he has the “absolute right” to apologize to himself, although most legal experts disagree.
As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have an absolute right to apologize to myself, but why should I do that if I haven’t done anything wrong? In the meantime, the never-ending witch hunt, led by 13 very angry and conflicted Democrats (and others), continues in the medium term!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018
Should he issue self-pardon, it would likely force the judicial authorities of the Biden government to charge him with crimes. This is the only real way to test whether or not he can constitutionally pardon himself.
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