Some of President Trump’s lawyers are exploring ways to limit or undercut special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, building a case against what they allege are his conflicts of interest, and discussing the president’s authority to grant pardons, reports the Washington Post. Trump has asked his advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members and even himself in connection with the probe, according to one of his legal advisers. A second person said Trump’s lawyers have been discussing the president’s pardoning powers among themselves.
Trump’s legal team declined to comment on the issue. But one adviser said the president has simply expressed a curiosity in understanding the reach of his pardoning authority, as well as the limits of Mueller’s investigation. Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that Trump’s lawyers and aides are scouring the professional and political backgrounds of investigators hired by Mueller, looking for conflicts of interest they could use to discredit the investigation — or even build a case to fire Mueller or get some members of his team recused.