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A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 23 June 2018

AP-NORC Poll: Americans say no to presidential self-pardons

By STEVE PEOPLES and EM- tors. “They really hate this Libby, a former top aide
ILY SWANSON guy,” Alexander said, re- to Vice President Dick
Associated Press ferring to Trump. But, she Cheney, who Trump said
NEW YORK (AP) — Even in added, “I don’t think he had been “treated unfair-
an era of deep political di- should pardon himself. It ly” during an investigation
vision, Democrats and Re- looks bad.” carried out by a special
publicans agree presidents If he did so, Alexander counsel.
should not pardon them- is among the minority of Despite Trump’s declara-
selves. And if the nation’s Americans who don’t be- tion on social media that
chief executive ever does lieve that should lead Con- he could pardon himself,
so, majorities of Americans gress to take immediate it’s not clear the Constitu-
in both parties believe Con- action. “I don’t think they tion grants him that author-
gress should impeach that should automatically re- ity and that question has
president. move him. He’s doing so never been tested in the
Those are the findings of a much good for the coun- courts. Trump’s lawyer, for-
new poll from The Associ- try,” said Alexander, a stay- mer New York City Mayor
ated Press-NORC Center at-home mother of three Rudy Giuliani, has argued
for Public Affairs Research, whose husband is an active that a president “probably
which comes as federal duty soldier in the Army. does” have the power to
authorities continue their “Maybe he did do some- pardon himself — but he
months-long criminal inves- thing wrong, but because also insists Trump would
tigation into Russia’s inter- there’s so much bias, it’s never do so.
vention in the 2016 election President Donald Trump listens during an event on immigration hard to say,” she said. “Pardoning himself would
and the actions of Presi- alongside family members affected by crime committed by One of the most sweeping be unthinkable and prob-
dent Donald Trump’s cam- undocumented immigrants, at the South Court Auditorium on powers granted to a presi- ably lead to immediate
paign. the White House complex, Friday, June 22, 2018, in Washington. dent, pardons are outlined impeachment,” Giuliani
Already, prosecutors have Associated Press in Article II, Section 2 of the told NBC’s “Meet the Press”
charged four Trump cam- think Congress should take opinion by party on issues Constitution, which says the earlier this month.
paign associates — includ- steps to remove a president related to Trump and his president “shall have power On that point, James Baker
ing the one-time campaign from office if they did so. policies. While eight in 10 to grant reprieves and par- agrees. The 76-year-old Re-
chairman, Paul Manafort — The survey did not ask Republicans approve of dons for offenses against publican from the northern
with felonies as part of the about Trump by name, but the job he’s doing as presi- the United States, except in Chicago suburbs has been
probe, and special coun- several poll respondents in dent, for example, only one cases of impeachment.” pleasantly surprised by
sel Robert Mueller wants to follow-up interviews — in- out of every 10 Democrats Trump has issued several Trump’s job performance.
question the Republican cluding some strong Trump says the same. high profile pardons since But he says the Constitution
president directly. supporters — said their feel- But there’s little such dis- taking office, including to doesn’t go so far as to al-
Trump raised the possibility ings would not change agreement on the question former Arizona sheriff Joe low a president to use the
of a self-pardon on Twitter when applied to the cur- of pardons. Three-quarters Arpaio, who was awaiting power of the pardon as a
earlier in this month, writ- rent president. of Republicans say a presi- sentencing for contempt get out of jail free card.
ing: “As has been stated by “Pardon himself? You might dent should not self-pardon of court, and a U.S. Navy “If it ever did get to that
numerous legal scholars, I as well cash in your chips if charged with a crime, sailor convicted of taking point and he’s convicted of
have the absolute right to and leave office,” said while 56 percent say Con- photos of classified portions crimes — it has to be pretty
PARDON myself, but why Bruce Novak, a retiree from gress should impeach a of a submarine. In May, he serious to get to that point
would I do that when I have Davie, Florida, who other- president who did so. More issued a rare posthumous — then that should stand,”
done nothing wrong?” wise praised Trump’s job than 9 in 10 Democrats pardon to Jack Johnson, said Baker, a self-described
By a wide margin, Ameri- performance and vowed agree. clearing boxing’s first black history buff. “I don’t think
cans believe Trump is to vote for him again in Brynn Alexander, a 34-year- heavyweight champion anybody should ever have
wrong: 85 percent think it 2020. “It’s not at all accept- old registered Republican more than 100 years after the power to pardon him-
would be unacceptable able. I don’t care who you who lives in Fort Mitchell, what many believe was a self.
for presidents to pardon are.” Alabama, railed against racist conviction. “No one’s above the law,”
themselves if charged with Recent AP-NORC surveys what she called bias In April, Trump also par- Baker added. “Not even
a crime, and 76 percent have found strong splits in among Mueller’s investiga- doned I. Lewis “Scooter” the president.”q

Democrats want U.S. Interior Department staff moves explained

By MATTHEW BROWN U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman of Dan Wenk followed dis- number is too high, Wenk the Interior Department un-
Associated Press California asked Zinke for agreements with Zinke and said, and raised concerns der Zinke revealed that 16
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — a briefing on the reassign- his staff over management that Yellowstone’s scenic senior employees viewed
Democrats in Congress ments after their requests of the park’s bison, accord- Lamar Valley is being dam- their moves as political
pressed U.S. Interior Secre- for a hearing before the ing to Wenk. The livestock aged by overgrazing. Zinke retribution or punishment
tary Ryan Zinke on Friday to House Natural Resources industry in Montana, Zin- has said he’s reorganizing for their work on climate
explain the reassignments Committee were denied. ke’s home state, wants the his agency for greater ef- change, energy or conser-
of dozens of senior agency The personnel moves have park’s bison herds reduced ficiency. His office has re- vation. However, the Inte-
officials, most recently Yel- attracted scrutiny from the to 3,000 animals out of fear fused to comment directly rior Department inspector
lowstone National Park’s Interior Office of the Inspec- they could spread a dis- on the removal of Wenk general was not able to
superintendent, who was tor General — the agen- ease to cattle. Park biolo- and did not respond to determine if anything il-
offered an unwanted trans- cy’s internal watchdog — gists contend the popula- questions about the matter legal occurred because
fer and then told he’d be over complaints that many tion of more than 4,000 bi- on Friday. A recent inves- agency leaders did not
gone in August. A group were politically motivated. son is sustainable. But Zinke tigation into 35 personnel document their rationale
of 14 Democrats led by The ouster of Yellowstone’s and his staff have said the reassignments proposed in for the moves. q