White House consents to congressional interview of ex-staffer on security

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it has consented to a former staffer appearing before a congressional panel for an “on the record interview,” accompanied by his lawyers, regarding security clearance policies and procedures.

The “reasonable accommodation offer” of a voluntary appearance by former White House Personnel Security Director Carl Kline before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform was disclosed in a letter to the panel’s ranking Republican, Jim Jordan.

It came after Jordan, better known for stoking than soothing partisan frictions, sought to defuse tensions between House Democrats and the Trump administration with a letter urging the White House to agree to a voluntary committee interview on April 30 or May 1, according to two sources who saw Jordan’s letter.

The House Oversight Committee is probing allegations that the administration inappropriately granted security clearances to some Trump advisers during Kline’s tenure as personnel security director for the White House.

-snip-

POLITICS APRIL 26, 2019 / 5:09 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Mark Hosenball
4 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-congress-clearances/white-house-consents-to-congressional-interview-of-ex-staffer-on-security-idUSKCN1S22AH

[msongs]

1. so will dems genuflect with gratitude to this loser? nt

[True Blue American]

2. In other words

Trump Caved! All his blathering, bully tactics were just hot air!

[SunSeeker]

3. The 2 only days Trump offered are those reserved by Congress to question Barr.

It doesn't take a cynic to see through that.

[watoos]

5. Fuck Barr,

who needs to listen to his bs.

[DallasNE]

4. Is This A Stalling Tactic?

No mention of this being under oath. That would permit him to just repeat the Trump talking points, making this a worthless interview. It must be under oath. Will he invoke executive privilege or take the 5th, both are a real possibility so it needs to be televised for all to see.

[watoos]

8. I agree,

Testimony must be under oath. If Congress starts this precedent all of the people who they subpoena will just lie their asses off.

It looks like Kline got his story straight with Trump and their lawyers. Restrictions on what questions can be asked is also setting a bad precedent.

I smell a rat. This is a test case for Trump's lawyers to be able to control the questions and conditions of House hearings. Proceed with contempt charges. Oh, now I see. Trump's lawyer knew these conditions would not be acceptable but he will use them to fight the contempt charge by claiming that Kline was willing to cooperate.

This is another delay tactic.

[ancianita]

16. It's Trump's ploy to dodge any further obstruction of justice charges from congressional oversight.

[Grins]

18. That's not exactly what it said...

The text was Kline would testify on the record, “accompanied by HIS lawyers”. To me that implies not the White House’s lawyers. And that is everyone’s right.

The question is did the writer mean “his” private attorneys paid by him to represent only him, or the White House’s? If the latter, you are spot on.

[rurallib]

11. yep - this clause "The "reasonable accommodation offer" makes me very skeptical

that Trumpco has any intention of actually cooperating.

[Roy Rolling]

6. Skeptical of Everthing Now

I'll believe it when he shows up and testifies under oath without invoking the 5th Amendment or executive privilege.

And, oh yeah, I also don't believe Lucy is gonna let Charlie Brown kick the football.

I'm not as dumb as a Trump supporter.

[Danascot]

12. FTFY

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Didn't Cummings already reject this idea even before

Jordan got involved? Thought I read that somewhere.

[watoos]

10. They are going to use this

to fight the contempt charge by claiming that Kline was willing to testify but Cummings wouldn't let him.

[Scarsdale]

9. Gym Jordan?

He is as partisan as Nunes. He, along with a colleague wrote to the pharma companies warning them NOT to comply with a democratic panel about lowering drug prices. According to Gym, their "stock will decline in price" So, this is why HE is on any committee. Does the bidding of tRump. Maybe he would look better if he actually dressed correctly, with a suit jacket? The shirt sleeve look just makes him look more puny, and tiny. He sounds like a sniveling little witch when he attacks people, too.

[SayItLoud]

13. The Fix is in:

GYM Jordan already knows how this staffer will answer the panel's questions. AND, if it is NOT public testimony the RePUBIC spin and lies will muddy the entire situation, practice and awarding of top level security clearances. HENCE, matter dealt with people lied to and confused and subject done and over with. It's a tactic we have seen before and GYM Jordan plays it often and well.

[MBS]

14. Why should the testimony of an EX-staffer need WH "consent"?

Why should the testimony of even a CURRENT staffer need WH consent?
Not to mention punishing staffers and ex-staffers for doing so.

Why do ~35-40% of the country not realize that the survival of our democracy (not to mention the environment and our national security) is at stake?

[Iliyah]

15. Republicans are trying to out smart the Democrats in allowing

the testimony I hope under oath.

That said, the House Democrats in my opinion seems to be top notch and what ever the Republicans are trying to pull over will backfire. I'm pretty sure the Republicans don't exactly know that the questions are.

Keep t-rump and his cronies in full sight of their crimes. Further expose them for what they are . . . a danger to the USA and her democracy.

[paleotn]

17. Screw Gym Jordan....

Pick one of the recalcitrants and throw their ass in jail to make a point and a warning.