President Donald Trump demanded an investigation of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi — after an investigation into Sen. Chuck Schumer is launched — for allegedly lying about her ties to Russia. “I hereby demand a second investigation, after Schumer, of Pelosi for her close ties to Russia, and lying about it,” Trump twe-creed.
I hereby demand a second investigation, after Schumer, of Pelosi for her close ties to Russia, and lying about it. https://t.co/qCDljfF3wN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2017
When asked on Friday, the Democrat from California said she has never met with Sergey Kislyak, the current Russian ambassador.
“Not with this Russian ambassador, no,” Pelositold Politico, which seemingly contradicts a photo from 2010. RELATED:Arnold Schwarzenegger terminates ties with ‘Celebrity Apprentice In the photo, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev is shown seated with Kislyak across the table from Pelosi, who was House speaker at the time, and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md).
What Pelosi really meant, according to a spokesman, was she never met the ambassador privately.
“Of course, that’s what she meant,” the spokesman, Drew Hammill, told Politico. “She has never had a private one-on-one with him.”
.@realDonaldTrump doesn’t know difference between official mtg photographed by press & closed secret mtg his AG lied about under oath. https://t.co/YRFCuJkjLA
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 3, 2017
While it is not illegal or unethical to meet with foreign diplomats, Trump’s presidency has been tinged by alleged, possibly improper, Russian ties since he was a candidate for the Oval Office.
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from an investigation into Russia’s alleged meddling with the 2016 election after he seemingly made a false statement under oath regarding his Russian ties.
We are far past recusal. Jeff #Sessions lied under oath. Anything less than resignation or removal from office is unacceptable.
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 2, 2017
On Friday, Trump accused Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, of double standards for having met Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.
“We should start an immediate investigation into @SenSchumer and his ties to Russia and Putin. A total hypocrite!” Trump said in a tweet that included what appeared to be an old picture of Schumer and Putin smiling as they ate doughnuts.
We should start an immediate investigation into @SenSchumer and his ties to Russia and Putin. A total hypocrite! pic.twitter.com/Ik3yqjHzsA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2017
Schumer, who also called for Sessions’ resignation, responded in a tweet that he was willing to swear under oath that his contact with Putin and the Russian leader’s associates occurred in 2003 and in public with the media present.
Happily talk re: my contact w Mr. Putin & his associates, took place in ’03 in full view of press & public under oath. Would you &your team? https://t.co/yXgw3U8tmQ
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 3, 2017
And for the record, they were Krispy Kreme donuts.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 3, 2017
Reuters contributed to this report.
