Liz Oyer, a former pardon lawyer for the Division of Justice (DOJ), mentioned she believes President Trump is “determined” to “demolish the rule of law.”
Oyer, who was ousted from the DOJ earlier this month after she refused to revive gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, joined CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Tuesday to debate Trump’s name to void the preemptive pardons issued by former President Biden as a result of he used an autopen.
“I think we could have a legitimate debate about whether the president should or should not have the power to issue preemptive pardons like that one, but what is established is that the president does, in fact, have that power and once the president makes the decision to do that, it is unprecedented, there is no authority for a subsequent president to try to undo the pardon,” Oyer mentioned.
She pointed to Trump’s Reality Social submit, the place he mentioned Biden’s pardons ought to be void resulting from autopen use, and mentioned she thinks it’s a distraction.
“It’s really just one small example of the fact that the president is determined to demolish the rule of law,” she mentioned.
Biden pardoned a number of of Trump’s political enemies earlier than the administration change. The pardons included lawmakers who sat on the Home panel that investigated his function within the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, Biden’s household, Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley.
Trump argued Monday that Biden didn’t signal the papers or know “anything about them!” He mentioned these on the Home committee ought to count on to be investigated “on the highest stage,” at the same time as its unknown if Biden used an autopen or if Trump can reverse a pardon.
Oyer famous that on Friday, Trump visited with DOJ staff and Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi.
“She essentially endorsed the idea that she’s not going to be independent of the president,” Oyer mentioned about Bondi, noting a significant Democratic concern in her affirmation course of. “She does not have an agenda of her own. She’s not going to stand up to him. She is there to facilitate the president’s agenda.”
Oyer later added that Trump searching for retribution on attorneys he doesn’t like is one other approach he’s attacking the rule of legislation.
“It’s a very scary, alarming situation for all Americans and should be to everyone, regardless of their politics,” she mentioned.
The Hill has reached out to the White Home for remark.
