President Donald Trump on Tuesday raged against the impeachment inquiry into his abuse of power ahead of key testimony from a White House official that threatens to deepen the president’s problems.
In his latest fusillade, Trump tweeted dozens of messages denying wrongdoing, lambasting Democrats for their handling of the impeachment proceedings and questioning the credibility of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a national security council official who will meet behind closed doors with lawmakers on Tuesday.
“Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call ‘concerned’ today’s Never Trumper witness,” Trump tweeted. “Was he on the same call that I was? Can’t be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt!”
In another tweet, Trump questioned “How many more Never Trumpers will be allowed to testify” and asked “why so many” people were listening in on his July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He also claimed that the only criminal in the Ukraine Debacle is Rep. Adam Shiff.
“The only crimes in the Impeachment Hoax were committed by Shifty Adam Schiff,” he tweeted.
The president repeatedly urged his followers to read a White House rough summary of the call, which was released in September. The document shows Trump urging Zelensky to look into a company with ties to the Russia investigation and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
Vindman on Tuesday will become the first official who was on the call to testify. He will tell lawmakers that he was troubled by Trump urging Zelensky to investigate a rival and reported it to his supervisor, worrying that the president’s conduct threatened to undermine U.S. national security, according to a copy of his opening statement.
Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call “concerned” today’s Never Trumper witness. Was he on the same call that I was? Can’t be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019
How many more Never Trumpers will be allowed to testify about a perfectly appropriate phone call when all anyone has to do is READ THE TRANSCRIPT! I knew people were listening in on the call (why would I say something inappropriate?), which was fine with me, but why so many?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019
The Do Nothing Democrats are working hard to make everyone forget the Best Economy Ever, the monumental weekend raid, Tax Cuts, the Rebuilding of our Military, etc. The Impeachment Hoax is a disgrace. Read the transcript!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019
The only crimes in the Impeachment Hoax were committed by Shifty Adam Schiff, when he totally made up my phone conversation with the Ukrainian President and read it to Congress, together with numerous others on Shifty’s side. Schiff should be Impeached, and worse!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019
Trump’s insistence that he has done nothing wrong puts Republicans in a difficult spot, particularly in the Senate, where some GOP lawmakers have been hesitant to defend his actions.
