Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 28 February 2018

Hope Hicks declines to answer some questions in Russia probe

Continued from Front White House press sec-
retary Sarah Huckabee
“There are some questions Sanders said Tuesday that
that she’s not going to “we are cooperating be-
answer,” said Republican cause as the president has
Rep. Chris Stewart of Utah. said repeatedly there is no
Democratic Rep. Mike collusion, and we’re going
Quigley of Illinois, another to continue to cooperate,
member of the panel, said and hopefully they’ll wrap
Hicks and her lawyer were this up soon.”
“following the orders of the Hicks has also been inter-
White House not to answer viewed by special counsel
certain questions.” Robert Mueller, according
Another person familiar to published reports, along
with Hicks’ testimony said with other White House of-
her lawyer is responding to ficials. Mueller is investigat-
questions about that time ing matters related to the
period by saying the White Russian meddling and po-
House has advised her not tential obstruction of an
to answer and by saying House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., a close ally of President Donald ongoing federal inquiry.
she will take some ques- Trump, arrives at the Capitol as his panel prepares to meet with White House Communications One area of Mueller’s in-
tions “under advisement.” Director Hope Hicks, one of Trump’s closest aides and advisers, in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 27, terest has been the White
The person declined to 2018. House response to news
be identified because the (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) reports of a 2016 meeting
committee meetings are “They actually opened up he refused to answer ques- with that interview. The per- that members of Trump’s
behind closed doors. some questions on the tran- tions, but he has yet to co- son declined to be named campaign team held with
At the beginning of the sition, so that’s good,” said operate. because the Senate does Russians in Trump Tower.
day, Hicks was also declin- Florida Rep. Tom Rooney The House is now consider- not publicly disclose who The White House has said
ing to answer questions as he left the meeting. He ing whether to hold Ban- has been interviewed. the president was involved
about the transition period said she has answered “ev- non in contempt. In the hours before Hicks’ in drafting an early state-
between the election and erything” they have asked Hicks arrived shortly after arrival, Trump tweeted sev- ment saying the meeting
the inauguration. about the time period dur- 10 a.m. through a rear en- eral times, quoting cable primarily concerned a Rus-
But as the interview came ing the campaign. trance to the committee’s news commentators who sian adoption program,
close to its eighth hour, a It’s unclear whether the interview space and did said they hadn’t seen but emails released later
Republican lawmaker said committee will subpoena not answer shouted ques- evidence of collusion be- showed that Trump’s eldest
that Hicks had started to Hicks for answers. tions from reporters. tween Trump and Russia. son, Donald Trump Jr., en-
answer some questions The panel subpoenaed This is the second inter- One tweet encouraged thusiastically agreed to the
from that time. Bannon last month after view she has done as part investigations of his Demo- sit-down with a Russian law-
of the congressional Rus- cratic presidential rival, yer and others after he was
sia probes — she was also Hillary Clinton. And a last promised dirt on Clinton.
interviewed by the Senate tweet simply said “WITCH Hicks was with the presi-
intelligence committee HUNT!” dent on Air Force One while
Paradise in the Caribbean several months ago, ac- Asked about Hicks’ refusal they were writing the initial
cording to a person familiar to answer some questions, statement. q

Report:
Kushner’s security clearance downgraded

WASHINGTON (AP) — Polit- than a year. hadn’t receives perma-
ico is reporting that the se- According to the report, nent clearances by last Fri-
curity clearance of White now he is only authorized day.
House senior adviser Jared to access information at A White House official con-
Kushner, President Donald the lower “secret” level. firms to The Associated
Trump’s son-in-law, has Chief of Staff John Kelly Press that Kelly’s order has
been downgraded. ordered that White House been implemented.
Kushner had been operat- officials with interim clear- Kushner’s attorney tells the
ing with an interim clear- ances pending since be- AP that Kushner’s ability
ance at the “top secret/ fore June 1, 2017, lose their to do his job won’t be af-
SALES OFFICE +297 2801005 info@leventaruba.com sensitive compartmented access to the nation’s fected by any change to
MOBILE +297 5927275 www.leventaruba.com information” level for more deepest secrets if they his clearance.q