Trump Asks About Pardons As Lawyers Look At Ways to Derail Mueller Probe

WASHINGTON Lawyers for Donald Trump , spurred by the presidents own inquiries, are exploring his power to grant pardons to aides, family and himself as a means of undermining special counsel Robert Mueller s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, The Washington Post reports .

The Post, citing an unnamed source familiar with the queries, said the president himself had asked advisers about the constitutional power, although another source noted that Trump sought only to further his understanding of the privilege. Trumps lawyer John Dowd called the claims nonsense .

Trumps lawyers are also looking into Muellers potential conflicts of interests, perhaps as a way of removing him from the Justice Departments investigation, according to a Post article that cited several of Trumps legal advisers.

Also on Thursday, various outlets reported Trumps longtime personal attorney and lead counsel on the Russia investigation, Marc Kasowitz, would be stepping into a smaller role . Kasowitz made headlines last week after he threatened a stranger in a string of profane emails, saying things like watch your back, bitch, and Im on you.

Trump has reportedly been unhappy with some members of his legal team following a series of revelations involving his son Donald Trump Jr.

HuffPost has reached out to Kasowitz for comment.

Mark Corallo, the spokesman for Trumps team of personal lawyers, resigned Thursday, the Post and Times reported.

The New York Times also reported on the Trump teams inquiries, which it described as wide-ranging, including scrutinizing donations to Democratic candidates and looking into investigators former clients and Muellers relationship with former FBI Director James Comey.

Trump fired Comey in May while he was leading an investigation into whether Trumps campaign colluded with Russia. Trump later admitted he was thinking about the Russia investigation when he decided to dismiss the FBI director.

Among the potential conflicts of interest that Trumps lawyers are looking at is an alleged dispute over membership fees between Mueller and Trumps Virginia golf club, according to the Post.

Earlier Thursday, Bloomberg reported that Muellers team is examining transactions involving the presidents businesses and those of his associates, including Russian purchases of apartments in Trump buildings , Trumps involvement in a controversial SoHo development with Russian associates, the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow and Trumps sale of a Florida man sion to a Russian oligarch in 2008.

CBS News later confirmed the report, and the Wall Street Journal said the investigation includes potential money laundering by Paul Manafort , who was Trumps campaign manager during part of the 2016 presidential campaign.

Manafort is scheduled to testify before Congress on July 26, as will the presidents eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

In a lengthy interview Wednesday in The New York Times, Trump said Mueller would be crossing a red line if he looked into the Trump familys finances beyond any ties with Russia.

Eric Holder, who was an attorney general in the Obama administration, tweeted Thursday night that there was no valid reason to question Muellers investigation:

There is NO basis to question the integrity of Mueller or those serving with him in the special counsel's office. And no conflicts either

Eric Holder (@EricHolder) July 21, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Eric Holder","author_url":"https://twitter.com/EricHolder","cache_age":86400,"description":"There is NO basis to question the integrity of Mueller or those serving with him in the special counsel's office. And no conflicts either— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) July 21, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Eric Holder on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/EricHolder/status/888222612609957888","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"597157abe4b00e4363de87b8","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/trump-lawyers-mueller-pardons_n_597157abe4b00e4363de87b8","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,robert-mueller,russia-investigation,donald-trump-presidential-campaign,presidential-pardon,@developing,@genassign,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":19},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"597157abe4b00e4363de87b8","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"relegenceId":2789214,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/robert-mueller","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller"},"relegenceId":3628965,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/robert-mueller"},{"name":"Russia investigation","slug":"russia-investigation","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/russia-investigation","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/russia-investigation","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/russia-investigation"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Russia Investigation","slug":"russia-investigation","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/russia-investigation"},{"name":"donald trump presidential campaign","slug":"donald-trump-presidential-campaign","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump-presidential-campaign","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump-presidential-campaign","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump-presidential-campaign"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"presidential pardon","slug":"presidential-pardon","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/presidential-pardon","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/presidential-pardon","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/presidential-pardon"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/presidential-pardon"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

There is NO basis to question the integrity of Mueller or those serving with him in the special counsel's office. And no conflicts either
Eric Holder (@EricHolder) July 21, 2017

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Trump cannot define or constrain Mueller investigation. If he tries to do so this creates issues of constitutional and criminal dimension.

Eric Holder (@EricHolder) July 21, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Eric Holder","author_url":"https://twitter.com/EricHolder","cache_age":86400,"description":"Trump cannot define or constrain Mueller investigation. If he tries to do so this creates issues of constitutional and criminal dimension.— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) July 21, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Eric Holder on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/EricHolder/status/888222773348360192","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"597157abe4b00e4363de87b8","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/trump-lawyers-mueller-pardons_n_597157abe4b00e4363de87b8","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,robert-mueller,russia-investigation,donald-trump-presidential-campaign,presidential-pardon,@developing,@genassign,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":22},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"597157abe4b00e4363de87b8","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"relegenceId":2789214,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/robert-mueller","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller"},"relegenceId":3628965,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/robert-mueller"},{"name":"Russia investigation","slug":"russia-investigation","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/russia-investigation","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/russia-investigation","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/russia-investigation"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Russia Investigation","slug":"russia-investigation","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/russia-investigation"},{"name":"donald trump presidential campaign","slug":"donald-trump-presidential-campaign","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump-presidential-campaign","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump-presidential-campaign","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump-presidential-campaign"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"presidential pardon","slug":"presidential-pardon","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/presidential-pardon","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/presidential-pardon","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/presidential-pardon"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/presidential-pardon"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Trump cannot define or constrain Mueller investigation. If he tries to do so this creates issues of constitutional and criminal dimension.
Eric Holder (@EricHolder) July 21, 2017