White House blocks key Mueller witness from answering more than 200 questions from House investigato

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

House Democrats’ hopes of making Annie Donaldson, the former chief of staff to ex-White House Counsel Donald McGahn, a star witness in their investigations of President Trump were dashed as White House lawyers blocked her from answering more than 200 questions about potential obstruction of justice by the president.

Donaldson affirmed the accuracy of colorful and striking notes she made while working in the White House — notes that former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III cited 65 times in his report that described 10 episodes that raised concerns about possible obstruction.

But Trump administration lawyers barred her from elaborating on her thinking at the time she captured several exchanges between Trump and her boss — including one note in which she scribbled concern that Trump’s firing of former FBI director James B. Comey would trigger the end of his presidency.

In total, the White House blocked Donaldson from answering 212 questions, according to her written answers. The committee received them this past weekend and released them on Monday.

-snip-

By Rachael Bade, Rosalind S. Helderman and Carol D. Leonnig July 8 at 7:35 PM


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-blocks-key-mueller-witness-from-answering-more-than-200-questions-from-house-investigators/2019/07/08/d21bc6b6-a1d0-11e9-b7b4-95e30869bd15_story.html

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Full headline: White House blocks key Mueller witness from answering more than 200 questions from House investigators

[saidsimplesimon]

1. I'm reading and getting angry.

That piece of shit Con wins the day when I lose my composure...breath in... hold..

[SoCalNative]

2. It's time that these people

start standing up to the White House and defying their orders. Period.

[paleotn]

3. Their blocking her from testifying about obstruction

is obstruction in and of itself. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound I guess.

[WePurrsevere]

4. This is not how innocent people act. If they have...

Nothing bad/illegal to hide they shouldn't have a problem with getting things out in the open. (Of course most DUers already know that TrumpliCons have a long list of anti-American, unethical and illegal activities to hide.)

[dustyscamp]

5. Defy the Whitehouse orders please

[DeminPennswoods]

6. These witnesses are dyed-in-the-wool Republicans

They might be part of the GOP "establishment" and don't like Trump, but they are down with everything his administration is doing. Never forget that.

[beachbum bob]

7. this was a surprise? Now come on, it was expected and democrats need to actually start

doing their job with impeachment inquires into all those around trump and then trump

otherwise its a waste of time winning 2018 or 2020

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. Why are they even going through this pointless exercise?

All they do, each time Trump and company thumb their noses and laugh at subpoenas, is make themselves look weaker and weaker and like chumps.

Being made the laughing stock of Washington in exchange for not upsetting the applecart by initiating impeachment and making Fox News mad(der), HOPEFULLY will pay off in 2020. All we have to do is endure another year and a half of being made to look like fools. The voters will respect Democrats for being seen as getting wedgies one day and then going back for more the next. But at least we didn't punch the bully back, because that would be ethically bad. And his bully friends would be upset.

Pelosi and those holding party discipline at bay against impeachment are banking on Trump burying himself. We all just have to buck up and take it for another 18 months. What can Trump possibly do in 18 months? Come on. Its easy.

It might even work, that he buries himself. Who knows what other fucked up things he will do or say or be found out about his past. Maybe he'll be attached to Epstein's dirty deeds. Maybe they'll find a 'blue dress'.

It is obvious Trump has done MORE than enough to warrant impeachment. Democrat leadership is playing a risky game of ignoring their constitutional duty for a perceived political gain, (and/or a perceived political not-loss) in 2020.

I just think they are playing with fire. If Trump has gotten away with impeachment level misdeeds already for so long, he will keep going. Barr Mitch, and other R's will keep pushing and dismantling institutions and courts and voting rights. So maybe, maybe Nancy will be proven right, and they don't need impeachment for the American public to realize their mistake and vote for Democrats next time, the party that sat on its hands. Knowingly just going through the motions with unenforceable subpoenas that are thrown back in their faces.

Sure our side can market it as "how dare they ignore us!..." But their side can market it as a constant "witch hunt", in which they nobly resist the 'angry' Democrats that tie up Congress with partisan witch hunts....even AFTER Mueller has completely exonerated the President! "How dare THEY!"