Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich suggested that Donald Trump could pardon members of his administration who break the law.
Referring to a law that could prevent Trump from hiring his daughter and son-in-law to serve in his administration, Gingrich said on “The Diane Rehm Show” Monday morning: “In the case of the president, he has a broad ability to organize the White House the way he wants to. He also has, frankly, the power of the pardon.”
“It is a totally open power, and he could simply say, ‘Look, I want them to be my advisers. I pardon them if anyone finds them to have behaved against the rules. Period.’ Technically, under the Constitution, he has that level of authority,” he said, according to Politico.
{mosads}Gingrich also suggested that Congress change ethics laws so Trump can avoid any conflicts of interest that his global business empire may pose.
“We’ve never seen this kind of wealth in the White House, and so traditional rules don’t work,” he said.
“We’re going to have to think up a whole new approach.”
Gingrich didn’t provide any details for what a new approach would entail.
Trump previously said he would hand over the management of his real estate and investment portfolio to his children and longtime executives, but has not given further details. He called off a planned press conference to address the issue last week.
Gingrich conceded that Congress can’t ignore the relationships Trump’s businesses have with foreign governments.
“It’s a very real problem. I don’t think this is something minor. I think certainly in an age that people are convinced that government corruption is widespread both in the U.S. and around the world, you can’t just shrug and walk off from it,” he said.