Trump’s obviously not being transparent, and Robert S. Mueller III’s report left some issues unresolved, particularly whether Trump obstructed justice.
“I am not a crook.”
“Mistakes were made.”
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
The lexicon of presidential denials and non-denial denials of impropriety and illegality is replete with memorable one-liners. And on Wednesday, President Trump offered a new one: “I don’t do cover-ups.”
The day began with House Democrats meeting to discuss what to do about Trump’s refusal to turn over documents and witnesses that House committees had subpoenaed. The administration’s stonewalling had prompted more members of the caucus to urge the House Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment proceedings (a call that one iconoclastic Republican, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, joined). But Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) has been cool to the idea, preferring instead to do more investigations into Trump’s behavior.
After the meeting ended, Pelosi told reporters that Democrats were actually making progress on some fronts in extracting information from the administration. But then she lowered the boom.
“We do believe that it’s important to follow the facts,” Pelosi said. “We believe that no one is above the law, including the president of the United States. And we believe the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up.
