President Trump on Friday confirmed what many have long suspected: He thinks it’s “appropriate” for him ask his attorney general to investigate his political opponents.
“Certainly it would be an appropriate thing to speak to him about, but I have not done that as of yet. … It could be a very big situation,” he said during an interview with Politico on Friday, discussing the possibility of a probe into his potential 2020 rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, or his son, Hunter Biden.
The question was raised after Trump’s personal lawyer announced that he was going to travel to Ukraine this weekend to speak to the incoming administration there about opening an investigation into Hunter Biden’s ties to a Ukrainian energy company.
Trump told Politico he had not spoken to Giuliani “at any great length” yet about the trip but would before he left. Giuliani has since decided against it.
The President’s opinion on the appropriateness of using his Justice Department to investigate his political rivals took on heightened significance during Attorney General William Barr’s hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Barr demurred when asked if the White House had ever suggested he launch any specific investigations.
