Trump tweets he has 'complete power to pardon'

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US President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that he has "complete power to pardon" his aids, family and even himself, as his team is facing investigations over Moscow's possible meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

"While all agree the US President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us. FAKE NEWS," Trump wrote on Twitter, suggesting he had no need to use the power so far, but it is a possible option if the results turned out not as what he hopes.

Trump's tweet

Trump's remarks seem to be a response to a report by The Washington Post late Thursday that the US president and his legal team had discussed his authority to grant pardons for people close to him and potential ways to hinder special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

Presidents can pardon people before guilt is established or even before the person is charged with a crime, but scholars have questions about the reach of the president's legal authority in issuing pardons.

So far Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing by the investigators.

John Dowd, the attorney defending Trump in the Mueller investigation, on Friday called the Post story about Trump considering pardons "nonsense", reported CNN.

"The President's lawyers are cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller on behalf of the President," Dowd added.

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, said it would be “extremely disturbing” if Trump was contemplating a pardon for people who could be involved in the Russia probe.

Senator Mark Warner questions witnesses about Russian interference in US elections at the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington, DC on June 21, 2017. /VCG Photo

"The possibility that the president is considering pardons at this early stage in these ongoing investigations is extremely disturbing,” said Warner in a statement.

“Pardoning any individuals who may have been involved would be crossing a fundamental line."

Trump also responded on Saturday to another article by The Post reporting that Attorney General Jeff Sessions have discussed campaign activities with the Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions (C) and other law enforcement officials hold a news conference to announce an 'international cybercrime enforcement action' at the Department of Justice July 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. /VCG Photo

"A new INTELLIGENCE LEAK from the Amazon Washington Post, this time against A.G. Jeff Sessions,” Mr. Trump wrote. “These illegal leaks, like Comey’s, must stop!”

Trump's tweet

Sessions recused himself in March from matters connected to the Russia probe. He had denied the discussion with Russian officials and said he only met Kislyak when he was a senator. Trump told the New York Times earlier this week that he regretted hiring Sessions because of his stepping away.

Kislyak, as another key figure in the ongoing investigation, ended his tenure on Saturday and will be replaced by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Anatoly Antonov.

Trump criticizes Attorney General Sessions over Russia investigation