The Briefing Room
General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: Formerly Once-Ler on September 19, 2018, 05:59:47 am
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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/18/manafort-deal-pardon-mueller-trump-827898 (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/18/manafort-deal-pardon-mueller-trump-827898)
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s plea agreement with Paul Manafort on Friday took unusual and possibly unprecedented steps to undercut President Donald Trump’s ability to pardon his former campaign chairman.
The plea deal Mueller struck with Manafort contains several provisions that appear intended to discourage the former Trump aide from seeking a pardon and to rein in the impact of any pardon Trump might grant.
Legal experts with sweeping views of executive power and attorneys who advocate for broad use of clemency criticized what they call an effort by Mueller’s team to tie the president’s hands.
“What is most concerning to me is that Mr. Mueller, who is a part of the executive branch and is supposed to follow all of DOJ’s policies and procedures, is specifically seeking to impede the ability of the president to exercise his constitutional pardon authority,†said David Rivkin, a Justice Department official under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
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