President Donald Trump cut short a meeting with Democratic leaders that was meant to focus on infrastructure, entering the room to tell the attendees he wouldn’t deal with them until they stopped their myriad of investigations.
Democrats in Congress have multiple ongoing investigations into Trump, despite a years-long investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller being unable to establish conspiracy or cooperation between the president and Russia—a talking point for the left since he was elected.
Committees have subpoenaed Attorney General William Barr, former White House communications director Hope Hicks, and the president’s son Donald Trump Jr. as part of their zealous campaign to find some wrongdoing that Trump has committed while toying with the idea of impeaching him based on evidence Mueller presented that could supposedly constitute obstruction.
Trump and Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) split off after the meeting, Trump heading to the Rose Garden to address a group of hastily assembled reporters.
“I walked into the room and I told Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi I want to do infrastructure,” Trump said.
“But you know what we can’t do it under these circumstances. So get these phony investigations over.”
Pelosi claimed that her group entered the meeting ready to work with the president, despite hours earlier claiming that Trump “is engaged in a cover-up.” She didn’t specify any evidence behind her latest theory. While members of her party have called to open impeachment proceedings against Trump, she has held back.
White House aide hands out “fact sheet” on Mueller probe. pic.twitter.com/3utSqUq5WD
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 22, 2019
“We do believe it’s important to follow the facts,” Pelosi told reporters after a meeting of House Democrats that included discussions on the issue. “We believe that no one is above the law, including the president of the United States, and we believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up—in a cover-up.”
After Trump exited the meeting, Pelosi told reporters: “For some reason, maybe it was lack of confidence on his part. … he just took a pass. In any event, I pray for the president of the United States.”
A growing number of Democrats, some upset that former White House counsel Don McGahn didn’t show up on Tuesday to a House panel despite subpoena for testimony, have confronted Pelosi and pushed her and other leaders to act.
So sad that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer will never be able to see or understand the great promise of our Country. They can continue the Witch Hunt which has already cost $40M and been a tremendous waste of time and energy for everyone in America, or get back to work….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019
Pelosi has said she believes Trump is “goading” Democrats into impeachment. And Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to declare: “The Democrats are getting ZERO work done in Congress.”
“So sad that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer will never be able to see or understand the great promise of our Country,” he added on Wednesday afternoon.
“They can continue the Witch Hunt which has already cost $40M and been a tremendous waste of time and energy for everyone in America, or get back to work. But they really want a do-over! You can’t investigate and legislate simultaneously—it just doesn’t work that way. You can’t go down two tracks at the same time.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.