Former national security adviser Susan Rice's last-minute message to herself raises several questions, White House principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah said Tuesday, but he thinks it's clear she wasn't operating "by the book."
"I can assure you, five minutes before you walk out of the door of the White House on Jan. 20, 2017, you write an email about doing something by the book, it is pretty clear you didn't operate by the book," Shah told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program.
According to CNN, President Barack Obama met in January 2017 with then-FBI Director James Comey and several other top national security officials to talk about sharing information related to Russia with the incoming Trump administration.
Rice, in an email to herself sent minutes before President Donald Trump's administration, said Obama reiterated that the team needed to "proceed as it normally would by the book."
"There have been two story lines when it comes to the Russia probe," Shah said Tuesday. "The FBI FBI investigation and now special counsel probe has found no evidence of collusion, but a separate story.
But as it's not known what happened in the meeting, Rice's email prompts "real questions," said Shah.
Shah also discussed Trump's budget plan, explaining that it outlines the priorities for rebuilding the military, while giving funding that Defense Secretary James Mattis and the nation's generals have sought to ensure the nation's security.
The president's budget also includes helping veterans, money to fight the national opiate addiction crisis, and funds for a downpayment on infrastructure.
"It's a great plan but also has serious deficit reduction," said Shah. "It has over $3 trillion in deficit reduction, which is the largest deficit reduction of a budget in terms of a 10-year outlay that we have ever seen. It lays down a path toward fiscal responsibility. It allows us to keep the booming economy growing."
Shah also discussed the recent tax cuts, stating that the president's ideas that are getting the economy moving.
"It's the tax cut bill that's leading Trump to hundreds of companies announcing wage increases," said Shah. "People are seeing it in their bottom lines...Unemployment is low overall. Te stock market has been rising over the last year.
"We're very proud of this president's economic achievements and we think Republicans will be able to support it as they go to the elections next fall.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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