Key Democrat: Panel may need to hear from president on Trump Tower Moscow project

[highplainsdem]

Source: Yahoo News

WASHINGTON — A key Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said the panel needs to seek testimony from Felix Sater, a business associate of President Trump, and may ultimately have to call the president himself in light of newly disclosed emails about a prospective Trump Tower project in Moscow that was being pursued during the early stages of last year’s presidential campaign.

“This is a bright light in an ever growing constellation of contacts between Donald Trump and Russia,” Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., told Yahoo News. In a hearing with then-FBI Director James Comey last March, Swalwell first raised questions about Sater’s role.

Swalwell told Yahoo News that Sater, a Russian-born convicted felon turned FBI informant, is a “relevant witness” who may have been a “pivotal player” in the relationship between Trump and the Russian government. But the committee will likely need to go further to resolve all the questions swirling about the issue, including seeking testimony directly from Trump. “We don’t want to be reckless,” said Swalwell. “But that should be on the table. My belief is we have to hear from all relevant witnesses, and it does look like he [Trump] is likely relevant.”

It would be extremely rare, but not unprecedented, for a president to testify before a congressional committee. The last known instance was in 1974 when then-President Gerald Ford testified before a House Judiciary Subcommittee about his pardon of his predecessor, Richard Nixon. (Before that, it hadn’t happened since Woodrow Wilson testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the League of Nations.) But the mere fact that a leading Democratic investigator is raising the issue illustrates the mounting stakes for the White House from the inquiries, both by Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller, into contacts he and his campaign had with Russian officials.

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Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/key-democrat-panel-may-need-hear-president-trump-tower-moscow-project-234628061.html

[MFM008]

1. Yes

I think we do need to hear it.

[Calista241]

2. I rate the chances of this happening as somewhere between nil and non-existent.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see Trump testifying, but it's not happening.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. You may not have agreed with President Ford on his reasons for pardoning Nixon

They were a bit partisan, but also offered after contemplation of what it would mean for the country to put Nixon on trial,
and he gave cogent reasons for his decision that were believable, if uncomfortable or unpopular at the time.

Just like we'll get this time around, right?

[sandensea]

4. Great point. Now it's all deny/deflect/detract from the GOP.

I think we first saw that from them during the Iran-Cocaine-Contra scandal.

There were far too many smoking guns from them to reach for anything even resembling an alibi - so they just doubled down.

The talking point was basically: "It may have been illegal, and Reagan obviously knew - but it was a stupid Democrat law (the Boland Amendment) and it was for a good cause!"

"We're Contras too!"

Well, it more or less worked. And they've resorted to sheer shamelessness ever since - more brazen every time.

[ffr]

5. Would be nice is, as the people's president, tRump would answer our questions

Swalwell may already know more than the press is leading on about, but if not, there may be more to this story that he can add to his questioning.

Link to tweet

[roomtomove]

6. Trump testifying would be a useless exercise unless

he is hooked up to a lie detector