Trump's 'interference in CNN merger' an impeachable offence, says husband of White House adviser

President's alleged 'retribution' is 'unquestionably' unconstitutional, George Conway insists

Donald Trump’s alleged interference in a business merger involving CNN is “unquestionably” an impeachable offence, a lawyer and husband to one of the US president’s senior advisers has said.

The New Yorker reported that Mr Trump in 2017 told Gary Cohn, his then chief economic adviser, and John Kelly, his former chief of staff, to pressure the Department of Justice to block AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner, which owned CNN.

Mr Trump publicly objected to the merger, with many claiming it was to spite a news channel he perceives as an enemy.

According to an unnamed source cited in the publication, the president told Mr Kelly at the time: "I’ve been telling Cohn to get this lawsuit filed and nothing’s happened! I’ve mentioned it 50 times. And nothing’s happened. I want to make sure it’s filed. I want that deal blocked!”

George Conway, a frequent Trump critic who is married to White House counsel Kellyanne Conway, tweeted: “If proven, such an attempt to use presidential authority to seek retribution for the exercise of first amendment rights would unquestionably be grounds for impeachment.”

The Justice Department went to court in late 2017 in a bid to stop the $85bn acquisition. However, following a six-week trial a US judge ruled it could go ahead. Last week an appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to overturn the ruling.

Mr Conway’s impeachment comments were echoed by Democratic congressman Dan Kildee, who on Monday said alleged hush money paid by Mr Trump to women who claimed they had an affair with him could be enough to take steps towards impeachment.

"I don't think it has to be Russia-related collusion in order for us to take a step," he told MSNBC.