I agree with most of the previous comments and I am absolutely in favour of keeping the judiciary independent of the executive. Equally, I agree that no-one, not even the President is above the law. But what about cases where the law is unreasonable, as in the cases of people given life-sentences for a single non-violent drug offence?

To answer the question, I think such conduct and action would certainly be deemed in both jurisprudence and ethics as illegal. As the whole concept of a Republic, is that no-one, not even its President is above the law. The Constitution should and does may provision for an impeachment process because of this prime reason. People can elect a crook.
The disturbing feature, is that it is common to think that a democracy and majority get matters/affairs right.
Unfortunately, Germany in 1933 is pretty good evidence to suggest that this fanciful notion is wrong. Majorities DO get it wrong that is why a Constituted government must have checks and balances.
President Trump (being the proud outsider) did not legislate for these turn of events and investigations because he feels he is above the law and outside of public, legal and political norms.
The USA is about to test its Constitution again, which should really give legislators food-for-thought in the upcoming years.
All progressives and Constitutionalists can do, is organise for the mid-terms and initiate a true blue wave against the GOP and sitting President. Making his remaining time in office, agony. In order to dissuade future hucksters, chancers and snake-oil salesman from following the same trail as Trump.
The USA has to send a clear message to its elite, media and establishment, that President Lincoln was not kidding in his Gettyburg address, that America is a land where the rule of law applies and it will be a government of the people, by the people and for the people, which will not perish from its land.

No its not a democracy. Its the mark of a wannabe dictator!

There is no democracy in the US. Since big money pays for the politicians careers, they have to pay them back in tax cuts, permission to extract resources from public lands, etc. The leaders we are going to vote for have been preselected for us. Reminds me of the elections in the former Soviet Union. Until the people find a way to remove these parasites from our system, we will have no democracy. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were given money by the same institutions so no matter who wins, they win, we lose.

I think we should stop calling republics democracies to begin with. Voting for other people to take power over you isn't a democracy. It's better than a dictatorship, sure, but it's not rule by the people, for the people.

It could if that leader were elected by a majority, and worked for the country's best interest; so in our case, no.