White House Still Hesitant To Release Pence-Zelensky Call

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence listens to President Donald Trump speak during a reception to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, in The East Room at the White House on September 27, 2019 in ... WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence listens to President Donald Trump speak during a reception to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, in The East Room at the White House on September 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The White House is reportedly still mulling whether it will release its version of Vice President Mike Pence’s phone call with the Ukrainian president because it’s unsure if the move would help or hurt the President, NBC News reported.

While President Trump has maintained that his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was “perfect,” Trump aides are reportedly concerned that releasing a reconstructed transcript of Pence’s conversation with the same world leader would harm that defense, NBC reported. Many Trump allies reportedly believe that the release of the the White House’s version of Trump’s call with Zelensky was a mistake in the first place because it helped fuel the House’s impeachment inquiry.

The White House is also reportedly wary that making this conversation public might set a precedent that would prompt Democrats to push for transcripts of other relevant conversations, according to NBC.

It’s been three weeks since Pence told reporters that he had “no objection” to releasing the White House’s version of his call with Zelensky. An administration official told NBC News that White House lawyers are still reviewing whether to release the call.

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  1. Avatar for nycabj nycabj says:

    Surely St. Mike said nothing amiss. Or was perfection only possible for Trump?
    In the final analysis, it appears that Pence, who expressed willingness to release the transcript of his call, is just like Trump: too stupid to know that what they were doing was illegal.

  2. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

    In most administrations, this would be obvious bullshit. They damn well would know if the call was incriminating or not, if it was politically damaging or not. This “wah wah we’re not sure” would be media cropdusting.

    This crew… they actually may not be able to competently conduct that analysis.

  3. Hmm…now this one has me in a honest quandry.

    Is it because its too embarrassing to Trump?

    Or is it because its too incriminating to Trump?

    It could honestly be either, or even both.

    @erik_t

    Which is why I actually am leaning closer to “too embarrassing”.

  4. The White House is reportedly still mulling whether it will release its version of Vice President Mike Pence’s phone call with the Ukrainian president because it’s unsure if the move would help or hurt the President, NBC News reported.

    What in the hell could have been said that a few astute people, after careful review, are still in the dark as to “helpful or hurtful?”. I mean, WTF?

  5. What are they hiding? WHAT ARE THEY HIDING? WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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