Page 21 - HOH

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 15 May 2019

AP sources: Panel reaches deal

with Trump Jr. for interview

By MARY CLARE JALONICK of the panel’s Russia inves- because my son spent, I
and JONATHAN LEMIRE tigation. guess, over 20 hours tes-
Associated Press Under the terms of the deal, tifying about something
WASHINGTON (AP) — The according to two people that Mueller said was 100
Senate Intelligence Com- familiar with the agree- percent OK and now they
mittee has struck a deal ment, Trump Jr. will talk to want him to testify again,”
with Donald Trump Jr. to the committee in mid-June Trump told reporters at the
appear for a closed-door for up to four hours. The White House before trav-
interview next month, pull- people spoke on condi- eling to Louisiana. “I don’t
In this Thursday, March 28, 2019, file photo, Donald Trump Jr. ing the two sides back, for tion of anonymity Tuesday know why. I have no idea
speaks at a rally for President Donald Trump in Grand Rapids, now, from a confrontation to discuss the confidential why. But it seems very un-
Mich.
Associated Press over a subpoena as part terms. fair to me.”
The deal comes after the It’s the first known sub-
panel subpoenaed Presi- poena of a member of
dent Donald Trump’s el- the president’s immediate
dest son to discuss answers family, and some Repub-
he gave the panel’s staff licans went as far as to
in a 2017 interview. Trump say they thought Trump Jr.
Jr. had backed out of in- shouldn’t comply.
terviews twice, prompting Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.,
the subpoena, accord- tweeted, “It’s time to move
ing to people familiar with on & start focusing on is-
Senate Intelligence Com- sues that matter to Ameri-
mittee Chairman Richard cans.” Sen. John Cornyn of
Burr’s remarks to a GOP Texas, a GOP member of
luncheon last week. Those the panel, said he under-
people spoke on condi- stood Trump Jr.’s frustration.
tion of anonymity to discuss Cornyn’s Texas colleague,
Burr’s remarks in the private Republican Sen. Ted Cruz,
senators’ meeting. said there was “no need”
The deadline for Trump Jr. for the subpoena.
to respond was Monday, Senate Judiciary Commit-
according to one of the tee Chairman Lindsey Gra-
people familiar with the ham, R-S.C., said on “Fox
terms. His lawyers drafted News Sunday” that if he
a letter to the committee were Trump Jr.’s lawyer, “I
declining an appearance would tell him, ‘You don’t
and the president’s son ex- need to go back into this
pected to be held in con- environment anymore.’”
tempt for declining to be Senate Majority Leader
interviewed. Mitch McConnell has de-
But before the letter was fended Burr, telling his col-
sent, the committee leagues during the private
reached out Monday eve- GOP luncheon last week
ning and extended the that he trusted the intel-
deadline. The deal was ligence committee chair-
then struck. man. On Tuesday, McCo-
A spokeswoman for Burr nnell told reporters that
declined to comment. The “none of us tell Chairman
North Carolina Republican Burr how to run his commit-
has weathered fierce criti- tee.”
cism for the subpoena from Burr has “indicated publicly
the president and his GOP he believes they will find
colleagues. no collusion” with Russia,
Trump said Tuesday he be- McConnell said. “We’re
lieved that his son was be- hoping we will get a report
ing treated poorly. on that subject sometime
“It’s really a tough situation soon.”q