Dems Want Interpreter From Trump-Putin Meeting To Testify Before Congress

Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., speaks in support of transgender members of the military, Wednesday, July 26, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington, after President Donald Trump said Wednesday he wants transgender people barred from serving in the U.S. military "in any capacity," citing "tremendous medical costs and disruption." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., speaks in support of transgender members of the military, Wednesday, July 26, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington, after President Donald Trump said he wants transgender people barred from ... Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., speaks in support of transgender members of the military, Wednesday, July 26, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington, after President Donald Trump said he wants transgender people barred from serving in the U.S. military "in any capacity," citing "tremendous medical costs and disruption." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) MORE LESS
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At least two Democrats have called for the interpreter, who assisted President Donald Trump during his one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to testify before Congress.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) have pushed for the congressional hearing in tweets in recent days. Shaheen suggested that the interpreter could at least “help determine” what Trump “shared/promised Putin on our behalf.” Kennedy recommended that Republicans take action if they are “as outraged as they claim” and “issue the subpoena today.”

Trump’s press conference with Putin was met with bipartisan backlash after the President publicly supported Putin’s denial of meddling in the 2016 election and blamed both the U.S. and Russia for the decline in relations. But Republicans have appeared to ease up on their criticism of Trump in the past 24 hours, particularly after the President told reporters that he misspoke during the press conference.

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Notable Replies

  1. Great idea. At least they’re trying. Won’t happen, but at least they’re trying.

  2. The witness we really need is the person who can interpret Trump’s mind.

    If that’s even the word for the chamber of horrors between his ears …

  3. Two? How about all?

  4. One side for the argument is Presidential archive.
    The opposing side is translator confidentiality.

    Then there are Congressional Repubs, who wouldn’t even pass the Dem resolution applauding Paul Ryan’s statement that the Russians hacked the election.

  5. I may be wrong, but usually interpreters don’t take notes … It’s a very demanding full time job to translate in realtime, no time for writing… I would hate to translate Donald, he is not precise in his speech…

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