July 24, 2019

New York congressman gets to the heart of why Trump’s refusal to testify mattered

https://thinkprogress.org/new-york-congressman-gets-to-the-heart-of-why-trumps-refusal-to-testify-mattered-d962b396f958/?fbclid=IwAR3iavImKpxSI19suBACUenOcEmfWIcC9yXCEVeaosGEJ5Kp8HEf7-FZ1RM
"Mueller’s final report, made public in April, detailed at least 10 instances of possible obstruction involving Trump as well as numerous ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Though the president has claimed repeatedly that he cooperated with Mueller throughout the investigation and did not impede his work, Mueller himself has said this is untrue. In addition to his multiple attempts to oust Mueller from his role as special counsel, Trump also stonewalled Mueller’s team repeatedly refusing to be interviewed and opting instead to answer a series of written questions. Those responses, Mueller noted in his report, were mostly “inadequate.” “The written responses, we informed counsel, ‘demonstrate the inadequacy of the written format, as we have had no opportunity to ask followup questions that would ensure complete answers and potentially refresh your client ‘s recollection or clarify the extent or nature of his lack of recollection’,” Mueller wrote in an appendix. He noted that Trump had “stated on more than 30 occasions that he does not “recall” or “remember” or have an “independent recollection”‘ of information called for by the questions.” In his testimony Wednesday, Mueller reiterated this point, saying that Trump’s written responses were “not as useful as the interview would be.” Pressed further by Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), Mueller also agreed that Trump’s answers had been unhelpful because they were not always “truthful"."