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U.S. NEWS Saturday 10 June 2017
GOP shrugs off Comey revelations, sticks with Trump

Continued from Front pick up seats in the Senate,
thanks to a favorable map
House Speaker Paul Ry- that has a large group of
an’s fundraising chief, said Democratic incumbents Ryan and other Repub-
in an interview. As for the up for re-election in states licans explained away
Comey testimony, “there’s that voted for Trump. Trump’s interactions with
nothing we can do about “I think the last 24, 48 hours Comey as the understand-
it,” Zwick said. were all good for the presi- able blunders of a Wash-
It all underscored what’s dent, confirmed he was ington neophyte.
become a hardening dy- telling the truth all along, “It’s no secret to anybody
namic of the Trump presi- that he wasn’t under in- that this president is not ex-
dency: Republicans on vestigation,” GOP Rep. perienced in the ways of
Capitol Hill and off are Jim Jordan of Ohio said Fri- Washington, of how these
mostly sticking with the day, referring to Comey’s investigations work,” said
president despite the confirmation that he had GOP Sen. John Cornyn of
mounting scandals and informed Trump that the Texas, who sits on the intel-
seemingly endless crises president wasn’t being ligence committee. “When
that surround him. personally investigated. you have the FBI direc-
Though some are privately “I think he was exonerat- tor telling you three times
concerned, and frustration ed,” GOP Rep. Mark Mead- you’re not the subject of
is regularly voiced about ows of North Carolina, who an investigation and you
the president’s undisci- chairs the conservative ask him, ‘would you please
plined administration and House Freedom Caucus, announce that publicly’
the distractions he creates, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., flanked by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, and said Friday of Trump. “He and he refuses, I can un-
Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks at the Capitol in Washington. Republicans on Capitol
Republicans have scant Hill push ahead with their legislative and political agenda largely unconcerned with former FBI said that he wasn’t under derstand why the presi-
incentive to abandon him Director James Comey’s testimony Thursday about President Donald Trump. investigation and indeed dent would be frustrated
now. Trump’s signature (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) that was verified.”q by that.”
remains key to the still-na- ly, his core base of support- Outraged Democrats ar-
scent GOP agenda, and ers remains firmly behind gued that Comey had laid
he has the ability to ap- him. Those voters will be out all the elements of an
point judges to lifetime ap- key to the GOP’s success in obstruction of justice case,
pointments, a thrilling pros- next year’s midterms when even as Democratic lead-
pect for conservatives. Republicans will be de- ers tried to tamp down
And, despite Trump’s low fending a fragile majority calls for impeachment
approval ratings national- in the House and looking to coming from some liberals,
Trump punches back, accuses including some members
of Congress. Chances that
Comey of lying to Congress Republicans themselves
would initiate or even con-
Continued from Front conversations with the sider impeachment pro-
president exist now or had ceedings were zero, and
“No I didn’t say that,” existed in the past. The that will change only if the
Trump stated abruptly, committee also sent a let- Justice Department spe-
taking questions at a joint ter to Comey asking for cial counsel on the case,
press conference with Ro- any notes or memos in his Robert Mueller, delivers a
manian President Klaus Io- possession about the dis- verdict they cannot ignore
hannis in the Rose Garden. cussions he had with Trump whenever his investigation
Asked if he would make before being abruptly fired concludes.
that denial under oath, he last month. The committee To be sure, not all Republi-
said: “100 percent.” is seeking the materials by cans were so quick to dis-
Trump’s aides have June 23. miss Comey’s testimony
dodged questions about The president had pre-
whether conversations rel- viewed his attacks against
evant to the Russia investi- Comey in an early-morn-
gation have been record- ing tweet that broke his
ed, and so did the presi- previous day’s silence on
dent, in series of teases. his favorite social media
“Well, I’ll tell you about megaphone.
that maybe sometime “Despite so many false
in the very near future,” statements and lies, total
Trump said. Pressed on the and complete vindica-
issue, he insisted he wasn’t tion,” Trump wrote. It was a
“hinting anything,” before stunning accusation, sug-
adding: “Oh you’re going gesting that the former FBI
to be very disappointed director had lied to Con-
when you hear the an- gress, while under oath.
swer, don’t worry.” He also seized on Comey’s
The House intelligence revelation that he had di-
committee sent a letter rected a friend to release
Friday asking White House contents of memos he’d
counsel Don McGahn written documenting his
whether any tape record- conversations with the
ings or memos of Comey’s president to a reporter.q