Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said Sunday it’s an “open question” whether President Donald Trump will ultimately face criminal charges over allegations he directed his former lawyer to violate campaign finance laws — but warned against impeachment.
In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press,” King urged a cautious path for Congress in the wake of charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team against former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.
“I think impeachment is entirely different from criminal prosecution,” he said. “The Justice Department made a decision years ago… that a sitting president could not and should not be indicted. And so whether the president will ever face criminal charges with regard to this matter is an open question. “
He added “impeachment essentially is a political issue.”
“I don't think that there's evidence yet available to the public where there would be more or less a consensus that this was an appropriate path,” he said.
King also said he was in a “wait-and-see mode” on Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, William Barr, who has in the past been critical of the special counsel’s investigation.
“I'd be surprised if the Senate confirms an individual who doesn't commit to protecting the integrity of special counsel Mueller,” he said. “I think that's going to be a kind of litmus test for any nominee for attorney general, and we'll see how Mr. Barr handles those questions.”
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