Trump Doesn’t Want White House Aides Testifying Before Congress

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 18: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event recognizing the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride in the East Room of the White House, April 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. Today the Depa... WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 18: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event recognizing the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride in the East Room of the White House, April 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. Today the Department of Justice released special counsel Robert Mueller’s redacted report on Russian election interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Trump is not onboard with seeing any of his current or former White House aides testifying before Congress, he said in a new interview with The Washington Post. 

After the White House’s cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, any further compliance with Congress’ requests is unnecessary, Trump said, especially when dealing with a “very partisan” legislative body.

“There is no reason to go any further, and especially in Congress where it’s very partisan — obviously very partisan,” he told the Post. “I don’t want people testifying to a party, because that is what they’re doing if they do this.”

“I allowed my lawyers and all the people to go and testify to Mueller — and you know how I feel about that whole group of people that did the Mueller report,” Trump continued. “I was so transparent; they testified for so many hours. They have all of that information that’s been given.”

That tone of defiance appears to be the battle plan for Trump’s legal team. His lawyer Rudy Giuliani later told the New York Times that the administration was just stealing notes from the Clinton playbook.

“I agree with the strategy of now fighting everything, the way Clinton did initially,” he told the Times. “We already gave every document we have, every witness we have. I don’t think the White House should sit by and have them do it all over again.”

Trump’s opposition to complying with congressional requests just escalates an ongoing power struggle between House Democrats and the White House. Just this week, the administration told former White House official Carl Kline not to comply with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena for testimony. The White House also indicated it would assert executive privilege to keep former White House counsel Don McGahn from testifying and the Treasury Department pushed back on the Ways and Means Committee’s deadline for handing over Trump’s tax returns.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. tRump is also not on board with the constitution, or with any law restricting the royal family and its ability to lie, cheat, steal, and grift.

    After the White House’s cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, any further compliance with Congress’ requests is unnecessary, he said

    we’ve told our lies and that’s all you’re getting from us. don’t make me send the ‘bikers for trump’ after you.

  2. “testifying to a party”?
    Maybe, but they are testifying in front of the people, which is what really matters.

  3. This public servant/accountability thing is way too much for poor Mr. Trump. He would do himself and the world a favor by going out to pasture.

  4. “they have all of that information that’s been given”
    And that’s fucking not enough.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

47 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for srfromgr Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for bojimbo26 Avatar for cervantes Avatar for virginiavoter Avatar for dont Avatar for 26degreesrising Avatar for maxaroo Avatar for riverstreet Avatar for henk Avatar for georgeh Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for noonm Avatar for katscherger Avatar for cub_calloway Avatar for moderately Avatar for carolson Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for dicktater Avatar for emiliano4 Avatar for enceladus Avatar for ANNFFL

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: