Democrats have the perfect “Gotcha!” plan to catch President Trump colluding with Vladimir Putin: make the interpreter testify as to what was said during the pair’s private meeting in Helsinki.
CNN reports that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, has now called on President Trump’s interpreter to testify before Congress, which would essentially strip the president of any and all diplomatic authority.
“I’m calling for a hearing with the U.S. interpreter who was present during President Trump’s meeting with Putin to uncover what they discussed privately. This interpreter can help determine what @POTUS shared/promised Putin on our behalf,” Shaheen tweeted Tuesday.
Other Democrats have joined Sen. Shaheen in this ridiculous display of grandstanding that will likely get nowhere (and would be wholly inappropriate if it were to actually occur). In no way should a president be put under threat of having comments made in private to another foreign leader exposed unless indisputable evidence exists of possible malfeasance or collusion.
Speaking with CNN on Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts agreed that the president’s translator should testify before Congress.
“So what I’m asking is just that the White House tell the American public what was said, and if they won’t do it, then the translator who was the only other American official in the room, that they come before Congress and explain what happened,” Kennedy said. “And if they refused too, then Congress should subpoena.”
The Democrats know this will never happen and are only calling for the interpreter to testify as a means to create unnecessary suspicion around the Trump-Putin meeting.