Dem senator: Trump's allies shouldn't expect pardons in Russia probe

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is warning President Trump's allies that they shouldn't expect a pardon in the ongoing Russia investigation should there be any convictions.

The Democratic lawmaker on Saturday tweeted that targets of the investigation should still feel compelled to testify.

"Any witness counting on a Russia investigation pardon should think again," Blumenthal tweeted, linking to an earlier report from The Hill quoting Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who said that Trump's pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio was a signal to those targeted by the Justice Department.

"Trump's loyalty is limited, witnesses can still be compelled to testify, and the pardons apply only to federal crimes," he added.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been investigating alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.

Blumenthal's warning comes after speculation from Democrats that Trump pardoned former Arpaio as a way of reminding his allies that he values loyalty and rewards it in kind.

Trump signed the order pardoning former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Friday after weeks of speculation.

Arpaio had been found guilty in a Justice Department investigation of racially profiling Latinos. He was convicted July 31 of criminal contempt for disobeying a federal judge's order on detaining individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.