the message being sent is, "you lln commit perjury, and i pardon you if it protects me, and i deem that are loyal me." >> yang: to discuss thepo pardon, and itible implications for the russia investigation, we're joined ni richard ben-e, a partner in the washington office of mayer brown. he served on t 9/11 commission and was chief of the special prosecutor's watergate task force. mr. ben-veniste, thanks and welcome. first of all, what's your p reaction to thdon? >> i think it's the president flexing his pardon power.se it alsves to poke a finger in the eye of the intelligence community. the disclosures relating to valerie plain tht ended her career, he effectively as an undercover officer, case w,ficer, c.i.a., was a big blo and they're feeling it. >>ang: there was a lo made at the time during the trial that libbey s protecting the vice president. is this -- is a message beingpl sent to pein the russia investigation? >> i think the message the there and it has been repeated often before this pardon that the president miht exercise his pardon power with respect toin viduals such as mr.