Donald Trump talks pardon, blasts Robert Mueller

Washington: President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Saturday to complain about the special counsel investigating possible ties between his 2016 campaign and Russia while insisting that he, as President, has “complete power to pardon.”

Mr Trump, who defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in last year’s presidential election but continues to use her as a foil, questioned why his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and special counsel Robert Mueller were not investigating former FBI director James Comey or Clinton, for her email practices as secretary of state.

“So many people are asking why isn’t the A.G. or Special Counsel looking at the many Hillary Clinton or Comey crimes. 33,000 emails deleted...,” he wrote on Twitter.

“My son Donald openly gave his e-mails to the media & the authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e-mails!”

Meanwhile, Russia’s ambassador to Washington was overheard by US spy agencies telling his bosses that he had discussed campaign-related matters, including issues important to Moscow, with Jeff Sessions during the 2016 presidential race, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing current and former US officials.

A US official confirmed that ambassador Sergei Kislyak’s accounts of two conversations with Mr Sessions were intercepted by US intelligence agencies.The official said there was nothing automatically inappropriate about Sessions, then a U.S. senator as well as a Mr Trump supporter, discussing policy matters.     — Reuters