Dem Rep Lieu: If Trump Pardons Flynn Over Fear of What He Might Say, It’s Obstruction of Justice and Impeachable

On Friday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Situation Room,” Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) argued that if President Trump pardons former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn out of fear of what Flynn will tell Special Counsel Robert Mueller it is obstruction of justice and an impeachable offense.

Lieu said, “If the president pardons Michael Flynn because he’s afraid of what Michael Flynn’s going to say and his cooperation with Special Counsel Mueller, that’s obstruction of justice, and it’s also grounds for impeachment. You just can’t do that. You can’t try to effect this investigation by pardoning a witness who may say something bad against you.”

He added that the president does have the power to pardon Flynn “unless the reason is to prevent negative information from coming to the president. Then, in that case, you’re trying to use the pardon power to effect investigations against yourself. Now, it’s clear that no one knows what’s going to happen. This would be a constitutional crisis. It’s a gray area. I do have to say, the president is doing a lot of things that are in a constitutional gray area, but my view is it would be obstruction of justice.”

(h/t Grabien)

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett