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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 21 sepTember 2017
Trump: GOP health bill short of votes

By ERICA WERNER ing at it very positively.” ers, saying glumly: “I think
AP Congressional Corre- Trump’s comments came we’re one or two votes
spondent several hours after McCo- short and I don’t see those
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- nnell’s office announced other votes coming and I
dent Donald Trump said that the majority leader’s hope I’m wrong.”
Wednesday the Republi- “intention” is to bring the This time is different for
cans’ last-resort “Obam- legislation to the Senate McCain because his clos-
acare” repeal effort re- floor next week, a ques- est friend in the Senate,
mains two or three votes tion McConnell was non- Graham, is a co-author of
short, forecasting days of committal on a day earlier. the bill. Graham was over-
furious lobbying ahead After the embarrassing de- heard on his cellphone at
with a crucial deadline feat of an earlier repeal bill Reagan National Airport
In this June 21, 2017 photo, special counsel Robert Mueller looming next week. in July, some Republicans on Wednesday, appar-
walks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mueller’s team of investi- The legislation by Sens. believe McConnell would ently talking to McCain
gators is seeking information from the White House related to Bill Cassidy of Louisiana bring a bill to the floor only and pleading with him to
Michael Flynn’s stint as national security adviser and about the
response to a meeting with a Russian lawyer that was attended
by President Donald Trump’s oldest son, The Associated Press
has learned.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP: Mueller investigators seek

documents from White House

By ERIC TUCKER journalists in July, which the
Associated Press White House has said Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Spe- played a role in drafting,
cial counsel Robert Muel- said the meeting was pri-
ler’s team of investigators marily to discuss a disband-
is seeking information from ed program that used to al-
the White House related to low American adoptions of
Michael Flynn’s stint as na- Russian children, but emails
tional security adviser and released days later by
about the response to a Trump Jr. show that he ar-
meeting with a Russian law- ranged the encounter with
yer that was attended by the expectation of receiv-
President Donald Trump’s ing damaging information
oldest son, The Associated about Hillary Clinton.
Press has learned. The person also said inves-
Mueller’s office has re- tigators appear interested Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., center, speaks to the media, accompanied by Sen. Lindsey Graham,
R-S.C., left, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc-
quested a large batch of in White House interactions Connell of Ky., on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, in Washington.
documents from the White concerning Flynn, such (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
House and is expected as what officials includ-
to interview at least a half ing Trump knew about the
dozen current and former Justice Department’s in- and Lindsey Graham of with the votes in hand. support the bill “with all its
aides in the coming weeks. vestigation into him. Flynn South Carolina would re- In a Senate split 52-48 be- imperfections.”
Lawyers for the White House was forced out as national peal major pillars of former tween Republicans and “We’re going to vote. Ev-
are in the process of trying security adviser in February President Barack Obama’s Democrats, McConnell eryone will be held ac-
to cooperate with the doc- after White House officials health law, replacing them has little room for error. countable,” Graham said.
ument requests and to turn concluded that he had with block grants to states GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Graham’s office did not
over that information. misled them about his con- to design their own health Kentucky has already an- dispute the quotes or say
Though the full scope of the versations with the Russian care programs. Majority nounced his opposition, who was on the call with
investigation is not clear, ambassador to the United Leader Mitch McConnell is saying the bill doesn’t do the senator, but a refer-
the information requests States.Former Deputy At- trying to round up 50 votes enough to repeal “Obam- ence to working “for Ari-
make clear at least some of torney General Sally Yates to pass the legislation be- acare,” while moderate zona” suggested it was
the areas that Mueller and has said she warned White fore Sept. 30, when special Republican Sen. Susan McCain.
his team of prosecutors in- House counsel Don Mc- rules preventing a Demo- Collins of Maine is also seen The developments came
tend to probe and reveal Gahn in January that that cratic filibuster will expire. as a likely “no” vote. as Cassidy defended the
an interest in certain Trump deception left Flynn and “We think this has a very With Democrats unani- health care bill against
decisions as president. the White House in a com- good chance, Obam- mously opposed, McCon- criticism from late-night TV
A person familiar with the promised position, and that acare is only getting nell cannot afford to lose host Jimmy Kimmel, who
investigation who spoke she expected him to take worse,” Trump told report- even one more Republi- jumped into the heath
to The Associated Press on action. That conversation ers covering the U.N. Gen- can senator. The focus is care debate after his son
condition of anonymity took place two days after eral Assembly meeting in on Sens. John McCain of was born with a congenital
said investigators want in- FBI agents had interviewed New York, as he prepared Arizona and Lisa Murkowski heart defect in April.
formation on, among other Flynn. But Flynn was not to meet Egyptian Presi- of Alaska, both of whom “I am sorry he does not un-
topics, a June 2016 meet- asked to resign until several dent Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. opposed earlier versions of derstand,” Cassidy said of
ing at Trump Tower that weeks later, following news “At some point the Senate repeal legislation. Kimmel on CNN, arguing
Donald Trump Jr. attended reports that said he had is going to be forced to One leading Republican, that his bill would in fact
with a Russian lawyer as discussed sanctions during make a deal.” Chuck Grassley of Iowa, protect people with pre-
well as on the administra- the transition period with By his reckoning, “we’re at voiced pessimism Wednes- existing conditions, a claim
tion’s response to it. the ambassador, Sergey 47 or 48 already, senators, day in a phone interview that leading health advo-
A statement provided to Kislyak.q and a lot of others are look- with home-state report- cacy groups dispute. q