Page 2 - It Corruptly News Today

Security clearances as he pleases, can it be an abuse of power? >> i think so. this is just because you have the power to do something doesnt mean that you can do it corruptly. so whether its firing employees, whether its issuing pardons or whether its ordering a security clearance, if youre doing something with a corrupt intent you lose your absolute ability to do it. i think it could be an abuse of power if the normal process was subverted or stantsed. >> where is the corruption? >> i dont kno...

It would be like malpractice to do that. that being said, theyve done a lot of strange things in the presidents defense team so it wouldnt totally shock me. >> real quickly, is it the lawyers problem or would it be the presidents problem? >> the optics are terrible. legally, it could be terrible. the pardon power is almost absolute, but you cant use it corruptly, and if there were conversations whether it was directly or indirectly through surrogates like lawyers, terrible optics and terrible le...

i think its an economic issue. i think if you look -- im not going to absolve the democratic leadership in chicago and its been that way for decades, their responsibility for not addressing root problems and, in fact, exacerbating them. the public sector unions in chicago run that city and they run it corruptly, and they deprive communities of color of the resources that they need, that would-- >> couldnt you make that argument in other cities, too? >> i would make that argument in other citi...

History, we cant start asking about the motives of president. we have to ask whether his act was justified under article 2 of the constiution. same thing with senators. you cant question senators or congressman. you cant question the motive of judges. we have immunity for all three branchs of the government. not surprising we have it for the president as well. >> quickly, jeffrey, you have the last word. >> richard nixon was about to be impeached and he resigned. he had the power to do both. to ...

We all heard the case about how he was doing it like a mafia figure. the fact of the matter is that trump has unfettered pardon power but he cant use it corruptly. and you know, and michael cohen, but all the crimes, obstruction, lying, et cetera, campaign finance, goes list by list. thats exactly what that cast of characters looks like -- >> laura: you agree that article 2, section 2, clause one -- >> he can fire comey but not for corrupt reasons. >> laura: youre saying the pardoning of dinesh ...

Obviously. so in and of itself the act isnt grounds for obstruction or anything else. but could the intent, how does the intent tell you about the presidents mind-set and might that seep in other parts of the investigation? >> well, first of all, you dont have to succeed in obstructing justice to obstruct justice. that he didnt ultimately fire mueller doesnt mean anything. in and of itself, it is a conclusive piece of evidence. it is one more piece in the puzzle as we try to discern what the pre...

It is obstruction of justice. >> what was important about that questioning to you on a week where the trump legal team took the position that it is impossible for donald trump to obstruct justice and then walk that back publicly? >> well, it is very clear, the law is very clear that he the president and anybody can obstruct justice. the fact that you have legal authority to fire an fbi director, or to criticize an investigation, doesnt mean that you can do it corruptly. it doesnt mean that you c...

Former general counsel to the united states army. counselors, welcome to you both. paul, the question first goes to you, obstruction of justice, one of those terms very easy to use. weve read about it, weve seen it in movies. does this begin to fit here, to your mind? >> you bet, brian. obstruction of justice and attempt to influence or impede a judicial or congressional investigation, corruptly, you have to do it corruptly. that word is doing a lot of work here. lawyers look for smoking gun evi...

>> not that i know of. >> joining our conversation, former department of justice prosecutor georgetown law school, and jill wine banks, one of the special prosecutors during the watergate scandal and former general counsel to the united states army. counselors, welcome to you both. paul, the question first goes to you, obstruction of justice, one of those terms very easy to use. weve read about it, weve seen it in movies. does this begin to fit here, to your mind? >> you bet, brian. obstruction ...

Counsel to the united states army. counselors, welcome to you both. paul, the question first goes to you, obstruction of justice, one of those terms very easy to use. weve read about it, weve seen it in movies. does this begin to fit here, to your mind? >> you bet, brian. obstruction of justice and attempt to influence or impede a judicial or congressional investigation, corruptly, you have to do it corruptly. that word is doing a lot of work here. lawyers look for smoking gun evidence. what do ...