Letter to the Hon. Donald f McGaun, II, Council to the President - Disclose Efforts To Pardon Paul Manafort
Letter
Dear Counsel McGahn:
Since the July 20 report that the President was inquiring about the extent of his pardon powers toward White House aides, family members, and himself, the allegations against people affiliated with the White House and the Trump campaign have only continued to grow.
In particular, former campaign chair Paul Manafort has been the subject of growing scrutiny for his ties to the Russian government. In July, federal agents raided Mr. Manafort's home as part of the ongoing investigation into Russia's efforts to disrupt the 2016 election. Just yesterday, it was revealed that FBI investigators wiretapped Mr. Manafort both before and after the 2016 election. The intercepted communications reportedly confirm that Mr. Manafort was encouraging the Russian government to help the Trump campaign. If true, these allegations and any evidence gained from the wiretaps and the raid on Mr. Manafort's home are crucial to Special Prosecutor Mueller's investigation.
In light of yesterday's report that the FBI has informed Mr. Manafort of their intent to bring charges against him, Special Counsel Muller's team needs to have perfect clarity as to the weight and veracity of Mr. Manafort's testimony, as well as his willingness to cooperate with investigators.
With this in mind, I respectfully request that you inform Congress and Special Prosecutor Muller of the following:
Has President Trump considered, or is he currently considering, issuing a pre-emptive pardon to Mr. Manafort?
Should he decide to issue a pre-emptive pardon, is the President under any obligation to inform the Special Prosecutor or Congress of his decision?
Special Prosecutor Mueller, Members of Congress, and the American people must know who will or will not be cooperating with the investigation, and whether the President intends to allow this investigation to proceed unhindered.
This investigation is a matter of utmost importance to the health of our republic. With each new revelation, the American people's trust in the integrity of our democratic institutions erodes. A functioning democracy cannot stand when its people do not trust their leaders to uphold the law.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
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