The Democratic chairs of three House committees Monday demanded information about private talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin — and access to Trump’s translator.
In a letter, the heads of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Reform panels sent broad requests for details about the leaders’ private meetings by phone and in person.
In addition to document requests, the committees asked to interview interpreters who sat in on meetings, including a one-on-one session in Helsinki last summer.
Monday’s request demanded that people who “have knowledge” of the talks, and anyone who’s even seen or heard “readouts” of what transpired in the meetings should be made available, as they are following up on media reports that have accused Trump of concealing the details of his communication with Putin.
“These allegations, if true, raise profound national security, counterintelligence, and foreign policy concerns, especially in light of Russia’s ongoing active measures campaign to improperly influence American elections,” the chairmen wrote, the Washington Times reported.
The Democratic chairmen — Reps. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Elliot Engel and Adam Schiff of California — said Congress has a right to see what Trump is communicating to foreign leaders and whether he’s “acted in the national interest.”
Their request came hours after House Judiciary Committee head Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., fired off 81 document requests to the White House, Justice Department, Trump’s business empire and other figures who’ve had a connection to Trump over the years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.