BREAKING: Senate Intelligence Committee reaches deal with Donald Trump Jr. to appear for an interview, sources say. https://t.co/jFQ4sCoZMA
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 14, 2019
Update 6:15 p.m. EDT May 14: The committee, chaired by North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr, subpoenaed the oldest son of President Donald Trump to clarify remarks Trump Jr. made in previous testimony on the panel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The deal, which includes a limited appearance of between two and four hours behind closed doors in mid-June, according to The New York Times, ends a tense standoff between Burr and Trump Jr.
NEWS - A deal was struck between the senate committee subpoeaning @DonaldJTrumpJr for limited appearance, between 2-4 hours, in mid-June, after an intense campaign by his allies against Burr and McConnell. story via @npfandos and me coming soon.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) May 14, 2019
Republicans were furious with Burr over the subpoena and some openly urged Trump Jr. to ignore it.
While Burr and committee Vice Chair Democrat Sen. Mark Warner refused to comment on the deal that will bring Trump Jr. before the committee, a source close to Trump Jr. told ABC News that he's "incredibly appreciative to the members that went to bat for him, and he will return the favor come the 2020 campaign."
A source close to Trump Jr says the president’s eldest son is “incredibly appreciative to the members that went to bat for him, and he will return the favor come the 2020 campaign.” @DonaldJTrumpJr https://t.co/frazEK2jPE
— John Santucci (@Santucci) May 14, 2019
Trump Jr. was has been the target of several investigations over a meeting in Trump Tower in June 2016 with a Russian lawyer who allegedly promised dirt on rival presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and whether Trump Jr. lied about the meeting to investigators.
Original report: The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump Jr. for more information on his 2017 testimony relating to the committee's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to news reports.
The request follows testimony from President Donald Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, earlier this year, who testified that Trump's oldest son was briefed on plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow at least 10 times, according to The Associated Press.
In 2017, Trump Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he was only “peripherally aware” of the Moscow plans.
Axios first reported on the story Wednesday. The first public Congressional subpoena of one of Trump's children could foreshadow a brewing battle between a Republican committee chair and one of Trump's children.
A source close to Trump Jr. tells Axios:
— Axios (@axios) May 8, 2019
"Don and Senate Intel agreed from the very beginning that he would appear once to testify...and would remain for as long as it took to answer all of their questions. He did that. We're not sure why we're fighting with Republicans."
The Senate Intel Committee led by North Carolina Republican Richard Burr and co-chaired by Democrat Mark Warner has been investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election for the past two years and has interviewed many of the same witnesses as special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
It's unclear whether Trump Jr. will comply with the subpoena or whether he'll invoke the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination or simply refuse to testify. Trump's Attorney General William Barr ignored a subpoena to testify before the House Judiciary Committee last week; and the administration has told former White House counsel Don McGhan to ignore a Congressional subpoena, as well.
The Senate Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr. to answer questions about his previous testimony before Senate investigators in relation to the Russia investigation, sources with direct knowledge told Axios. https://t.co/CYqKfM744H
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 8, 2019
Credit: Manny Carabel
Credit: Manny Carabel
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