Trump’s turkey pardoning suddenly turns political
WASHINGTON — Peas, one of the South Dakota-bred turkeys that received a presidential pardon Tuesday, pleaded the Fifth. But President Donald Trump had a warning for the creature about House Democrats.
The bright white bird merely pranced around in the Rose Garden and let out nary a gobble as Trump warned him that he may be among the first target of several investigationminded House committees next year.
“Even though Peas and Carrots have received a presidential pardon, I have warned them that House Democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas,” the president quipped, also referring to another turkey who escaped a Thanksgiving dinner table.
The incoming chairs of several House panels that will be under Democratic control come January — Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, and Intelligence — have already made clear they intend to use their investigative powers to look into the Trump 2016 campaign and presidency, using their coming subpoena authorities to compel witnesses close to the president to testify about a range of issues.
During an appearance in the White House briefing room earlier in the day — though without his identity yet revealed — Peas declined to as much as squawk or chirp at a single shouted question from a group of reporters.
“Nevertheless ... I will be issuing both Peas and Carrots a presidential pardon,” Trump said of Democrats’ possible interest in their testimony.
Long gone are Barack Obama’s presidential dad jokes that drove his two daughters to sit out his last two turkey pardoning ceremonies, replaced by talk of investigations, subpoenas and federal court actions.
“Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that your pardons won’t be enjoined by the 9th Circuit,” Trump told Peas and Carrots. “Always happens.”
The 9th Circuit has shut down this president before, including on his “travel ban” that tried to block individuals from some Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.