Grassley Plays Politics, Protects White House
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has just announced Donald Trump Jr. and Paul Manafort will not be required to testify in an open public hearing next week as the committee originally announced. Trump Jr. and Manafort are negotiating with the committee and have reached an agreement to instead meet with staffers and members of the committee instead of testifying under oath.
It is a huge win for the White House, engineered by Senator Grassley, who has worked hard to protect the Trump administration in all things Russia.
CNN’s Manu Raju reports Senator Grassley has “not ruled out” compelling the two men to testify via subpoena in the future, but that’s a political statement.
“Both Donald Trump, Jr. and Paul Manafort, through their attorneys, have agreed to negotiate to provide the committee with documents and be interviewed by committee members and staff prior to a public hearing,” Grassley and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein said in a statement Friday evening. “Therefore, we will not issue subpoenas for them tonight requiring their presence at Wednesday’s hearing but reserve the right to do so in the future.”
Trump Jr. and Manafort were scheduled to deliver public sworn testimony next Wednesday on their involvement with the Trump campaign and any Russia connections, including last summer’s meeting with a Russian attorney and other Russian officials.
Via Twitter Sen. Grassley adds the two men “will appear openly” but does not state when:
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