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Trump praises witness who refuses to testify against him

By MICHAEL BALSAMO and er Trump is taking steps to is doing making America
ERIC TUCKER improperly influence wit- Great Again!"
Associated Press nesses in an investigation Sen. Mark Warner, the top
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- that has enraged him and Democrat on the Senate
dent Donald Trump praised shadowed his administra- intelligence committee,
a key witness in the Russia tion. Some legal experts, said Trump's tweet was in-
investigation Monday for though, say they may not appropriate.
having the "guts" not to tes- amount to witness tamper- "The President of the United
tify against him, and said ing if Trump didn't directly States should not be using
his former lawyer — who tell others what to say or his platform to influence
cut a deal with prosecutors not say. potential witnesses in a fed-
— should head straight to Trump already has come eral investigation involving
prison. under scrutiny from critics his campaign," Warner said
In a pair of politically who fear he may use his in a tweet.
charged tweets, Trump executive power to protect Stone said the idea that
made clear that he is close- himself as well as friends Trump's tweet amount to
ly watching those who turn and supporters. Last week, witness tampering is "hys-
on him in the special coun- Trump told the New York Michael Cohen walks out of federal court, Thursday, Nov. 29, terical."
2018, in New York, after pleading guilty to lying to Congress
sel's probe, which has en- Post that a pardon for his about work he did on an aborted project to build a Trump Tower "I'm not a witness to any
snared some of the presi- former campaign chair- in Russia. proceeding," he said.
dent's closest advisers. So man Paul Manafort was not Associated Press David Weinstein, a former
far, five people in Trump's off the table. Justice Department prose-
orbit have pleaded guilty Prosecutors say Manafort to them, although Manafort a long prison term?" Trump cutor in Florida, said he was
to federal charges. torpedoed his plea deal denies that he lied. added that Cohen "makes surprised by Trump's com-
The tweets add to mount- with special counsel Robert In one of Monday's tweets, up stories to get a GREAT & ments Monday, but didn't
ing questions about wheth- Mueller by repeatedly lying Trump took aim at Michael ALREADY reduced deal for believe the tweets alone
Cohen, his former personal himself." rose to the level of obstruc-
attorney who once grandly Trump added: "He lied for tion or witness tampering
declared he would "take a this outcome and should, in because Trump did not ex-
bullet" for the president but my opinion, serve a full and plicitly tell anyone what to
ultimately took a plea deal. complete sentence." say or not to say. Subjects
Cohen pleaded guilty last Minutes later, Trump lav- of an investigation can still
week to lying to Congress ished praise on his former communicate to others
about negotiations he had campaign adviser Roger entangled in a probe, and
on Trump's behalf for a real Stone. Mueller's prosecu- though they can encour-
estate deal in Moscow. tors are investigating Stone age them to tell the truth,
Though he told lawmak- to learn whether he had they cannot coach them
ers the talks were done by advance knowledge of to lie, he said.
January 2016, he admitted WikiLeaks' plans to release "What he seems to be say-
they actually lasted as late hacked material damag- ing is that people who con-
as June — after Trump had ing to Hillary Clinton's presi- tinue to show support for
clinched the Republican dential effort. him, in some way, may be
nomination and after Rus- Trump lauded Stone for rewarded for that support,"
sians had penetrated Dem- saying he'd never testify Weinstein said. "I don't
ocratic email accounts for against the president. think it rises to the level of
communications later re- "This statement was recent- obstruction yet, but it cer-
leased through WikiLeaks. ly made by Roger Stone, tainly would cause people
Cohen said he lied out of essentially stating that he who are conducting the
loyalty to Trump, who in- will not be forced by a investigation to start asking
sisted throughout the cam- rogue and out of control questions about whether or
paign that he had no busi- prosecutor to make up lies not the target has reached
ness dealings in Russia, and and stories about 'President out to them." Trump's mes-
to be consistent with his po- Trump,'" he tweeted. "Nice sage had an immediate
litical messaging. to know that some people effect on supporters. His
On Monday, Trump ripped still have 'guts!'" remarks prompted Michael
into Cohen on Twitter. Stone then posted a Caputo, the president's for-
"You mean he can do all screenshot of Trump's tweet mer campaign aide and
of the TERRIBLE, unrelated with a caption that said he a longtime Stone friend, to
to Trump, things having to was proud of their 40-year launch a "GoFundMe" ac-
do with fraud, big loans, relationship and "prouder count to help pay Stone's
Taxis, etc., and not serve still of the amazing job he mounting legal fees.q