

HELENA — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said he would not pardon Donald Trump if the president were to be charged after leaving office.

“No, I would not,” he told CNN’s Erin Burnett on Tuesday on her news show "OutFront."

“Congress needs to be doing its full investigatory functions and the executive branch actually has to be responding. … Even when lawyers who aren’t following the rule of law who are officers of the court aren’t showing up for hearings, we have a big problem.”

Preet Bahara, a former U.S. Attorney, posed the question on Twitter on Saturday

“Are Dem candidates being asked whether they will consider pardoning Trump if he is charged after leaving office? They should say no. This is not Ford/Nixon. Sometimes an indictment can bring unity.”

Some Democrats want an impeachment inquiry following special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia election meddling and contacts with the Trump campaign. Democratic leaders are discouraging such action at this time.

On Tuesday, former White House counsel Don McGahn's defied a House panel's subpoena for testimony,

Bullock told Burnett that in his sweep through Iowa people were talking more about how government would work for them than the investigations. He plans to be back in Iowa on Tuesday.

Bullock, a Democrat in his second and final term as governor, entered the 2020 presidential race May 14.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Veteran journalist Phil Drake is our eye on the state capitol. For tips, suggestions or comment, he can be reached at 406-231-9021 or pdrake@greatfallstribune.com. To support his work, subscribe today and get a special offer.

