The New York Daily News reports:
In one of his most forceful attacks on the special counsel yet, Rudy Giuliani on Friday claimed the Russia investigation could get “cleaned up” with pardons from President Trump in light of Paul Manafort being sent to jail. “When the whole thing is over, things might get cleaned up with some presidential pardons,” the former New York mayor told the Daily News.
“I don’t understand the justification for putting him in jail,” Giuliani, 74, said. “You put a guy in jail if he’s trying to kill witnesses, not just talking to witnesses.” “That kind of investigation should not go forward,” Giuliani said. “It’s time for Justice to investigate the investigators.”
Let’s process that within minutes of Manafort going to jail, Trump’s attorney floated a pardon.
You should also know I’ve seen men charged with Witness Tampering for scoffing wordlessly at a witness. Now consider what Giuliani just did. Why not treat Giuliani like everyone else?
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) June 15, 2018
Giuliani is now floating the idea of presidential pardons for Manafort – at a time he is being pressured to cooperate. Floating such an idea now is unquestionably obstruction. Pardons are for rewarding people who atoned or have unjust sentences. NOT to reward criminal friends.
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) June 15, 2018
The President’s campaign manager is in jail, partially for witness tampering. The President’s lawyer is casually telling the media the President is going to pardon him, which is witness tampering. https://t.co/f49xMt9o4Y
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) June 15, 2018