Trump reportedly wanted to order prosecutions of Hillary Clinton, FBI’s Comey

President backed down after White House lawyer warned he would face the risk of impeachment for abuse of power, NY Times says

By AFP 21 November 2018, 1:28 am

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(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on June 14, 2018, shows former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on June 1, 2017 in New York; and former FBI Director James Comey on Capitol Hill June 8, 2017 in Washington, DC. - US President Donald Trump wanted prosecutions opened against Clinton and Comey, according to a report in The New York Times on November 20, 2018. (Photos by ANGELA WEISS and Brendan Smialowski / AFP)

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump wanted prosecutions opened against his 2016 election opponent Hillary Clinton and ex-FBI director James Comey, according to a report in The New York Times on Tuesday.

The report, quoting unnamed sources, said that Trump’s wish earlier this year prompted his then White House lawyer, Donald McGahn, to advise him to hold off, because he’d be opening himself to accusations of abuse of power.

The Times said it was not clear what alleged crimes the president wanted to order the Justice Department to look into.

It said that McGahn, who has since left the White House, advised Trump that he could face the risk of impeachment if he took such a measure.

Trump has frequently accused Clinton and the foundation created by her husband, former president Bill Clinton, of corruption. He also continues to accuse Hillary Clinton of acting criminally in using a private email server to send thousands of emails while she was secretary of state, ahead of her failed presidential run.

Trump leads chants of “lock her up,” referring to Hillary Clinton, at his political rallies.

US President Donald Trump signs autographs as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 20, 2018. – Trump and his family will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)

He fired Comey last year and accuses the former FBI director of breaking the law when he gave information to the Times about interactions with the president.

The report about Trump’s alleged move to push the Justice Department into prosecuting opponents comes as he faces accusations of seeking to tamper with a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller into his election campaign’s alleged collusion with Russia.