President Trump is urging Congress to call former President Obama to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee as a pair of Republican Senators have revealed the identities of Obama administration officials involved in the Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn “unmasking” scandal.
Taking to Twitter, Trump said he would be calling for the testimony if he were a member of Congress and specifically told Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham to “do it” too.
“If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama,” Trump said in the tweet. “He knew EVERYTHING. Do it Lindsey Graham, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!”
If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama. He knew EVERYTHING. Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 14, 2020
As the Washington Examiner reports, Graham responded to the tweet in a statement raising concerns about the possibility of Obama testifying.
“I am greatly concerned about the precedent that would be set by calling a former president for oversight. No president is above the law. However, the presidency has executive privilege claims against other branches of government,” he said.
Graham also addressed the release of the Obama administration officials in a series of tweets.
The unmasking of General Flynn by the Obama Administration regarding conversations during the presidential transition are deeply troubling and smell of politics, not national security.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 13, 2020
I specifically want to know how many unmasking requests were made, if any, beyond General Flynn regarding members of the Trump campaign team, family, or associates.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 13, 2020
The Washington Examiner adds:
— Advertisement — Trump’s tweet followed the Wednesday release of a memo, declassified by acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, which contained a list of Obama administration officials who received information in response to unmasking requests targeting Trump’s former national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.
Among the people on the list were former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. His campaign responded to the release by criticizing Grenell, as well as the GOP senators who publicly released the memo for “their gross politicization of the intelligence process.”
Obama’s name was not seen on the partially redacted list, but several other members of his administration did make appearances.
Intel chief releases info on ‘unmasking’ of Flynn to Capitol Hill https://t.co/21wRsUboOf via @politico
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 14, 2020