‘Tape talk was ploy to keep former FBI director honest’
WASHINGTON: After weeks of teasing Americans about “tapes” of conversations with James Comey, President Donald Trump has said he did not “make” or “have” those recordings, indicating he hinted as much to keep the fired FBI director honest in his account of their interactions.
Trump, during an interview with Fox on Friday, said, “When he (Comey) found out that... there may be tapes out there, whether it’s governmental tapes or anything else, and who knows, I think his story may have changed”.
Trump also attacked special counsel Robert Muller, who is leading the Russia probe, questioning his ability to conduct an impartial investigation. “Well he’s very, very good friends with Comey which is very bothersome,” he said.
Asked whether he talked about the tapes to ensure Comey “stayed honest”, Trump said, “Well, it wasn’t very stupid, I can tell you that.”
If that was indeed his intention, critics pointed out that it didn’t play out well for him in the end. Comey has said he leaked his notes about his conversations with Trump because of talk of “tapes”, hoping to prompt the setting up of a special counsel.
NFL TEAM OWNER NAMED AS UK ENVOY
Trump has announced he will formally nominate Republican fundraiser and American football team owner Woody Johnson as his envoy to Britain.
Johnson owns the New York Jets, a member of the National Football League, and has an extensive record for raising cash for Republicans. Last year he was named a co- leader of Trump’s national fundraising team.
He also comes from American enterprise royalty, being the heir to a vast Johnson & Johnson fortune. His great-grandfather founded the company in 1887.
OBAMA: HEALTH BILL A ‘TRANSFER OF WEALTH’
Former US President Barack Obama sharply condemned the healthcare plan unveiled by Senate Republicans on Thursday as a “massive transfer of wealth” to the rich, at the expense of poor and middle-class Americans.
In a Facebook post, Obama wrote: “The Senate bill, unveiled today, is not a healthcare bill. It’s a massive transfer of wealth from middle-class and poor families to the richest people in America.”