WASHINGTON (AP) – The Latest on President Donald Trump and investigations into Russia election meddling (all times local):
10:40 a.m.
Sen. Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump’s comments that he’s open to accepting information from a foreign power against a political opponent “define deviancy down to a new low.”
The New York Democrat says Trump’s comments to ABC News were disgraceful and “it’s as if the president has learned absolutely nothing from the past two years of investigations.”
Schumer said Thursday that the Russian meddling controversy started after Trump publicly urged Russia to leak 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton’s emails.
Schumer says the Republican president “believes winning an election is more important than the integrity of the election.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers Donald Trump Jr. should have called the FBI to report that a Russian lawyer was offering negative information on Clinton in 2016.
The president told ABC if a foreign power were offering dirt on his 2020 opponent he’d have no obligation to call in the FBI.
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9 a.m.
The House Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates as part of its investigation into Russian efforts to interfere with the 2016 election.
Committee Chairman Adam Schiff says in a statement Thursday the committee is examining “deep counterintelligence concerns” raised in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report and “requires speaking directly” with Flynn and Gates, who were important witnesses for Mueller’s investigation.
The California Democrat says it’s “unacceptable” that Flynn and Gates haven’t cooperated with Congress. He says the American people “deserve to hear directly” from them. They’re being subpoenaed for documents and testimony.
Flynn admitted lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States and awaits sentencing.
Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy and false statement charges related to Ukrainian lobbying and political consulting he did with ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who’s been sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
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7 a.m.
President Donald Trump says if a foreign power were offering dirt on his 2020 opponent, he’d be open to accepting it and would have no obligation to call in the FBI.
Speaking to ABC News, Trump says, “I think I’d want to hear it.” He adds, “There’s nothing wrong with listening.”
Trump’s eldest son’s role in organizing a 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer offering negative information on Hillary Clinton was a focus of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers that Donald Trump Jr. should have called his agency to report the offer. Mueller said he did not find enough criminal evidence to bring conspiracy charges.
But Trump, who nominated Wray as director in 2017, says he disagrees and that “the FBI director is wrong.”
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