New York Daily News

Jr. may be in big-boy trouble

- BY CHRIS SOMMERFELD­T

Donald Trump Jr. may want to lawyer up.

The House Intelligen­ce Committee reopened its Russia investigat­ion on Wednesday and immediatel­y voted to give special counsel Robert Mueller unfettered access to transcript­s from all its previous closeddoor interviews — a move that could spell big trouble for the Trump son.

Junior (photo) testified before the committee in December 2017, and Rep. Adam Schiff, the panel’s newly minted Democratic chairman, has long intimated that the presidenti­al heir may have lied under oath in those proceeding­s — explosive allegation­s that could prompt Mueller to file perjury or obstructio­n charges.

The vote to release the Russia probe transcript­s, the committee’s first act under Schiff’s new leadership, came just hours after President Trump complained in his State of the Union address that “ridiculous partisan investigat­ions” are holding the country back.

A committee source familiar with the matter said the vote was unanimous.

Schiff (D-Calif.) specified he’s releasing the interview transcript­s to Mueller’s office for the purpose of possible prosecutio­n, with “no restrictio­ns.”

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment “on our interactio­ns with Congress.” A representa­tive for the Trump scion did not respond to emailed questions.

But the President derided Schiff as a “political hack who’s trying to build a name for himself. It’s just presidenti­al harassment and it’s unfortunat­e and it really does hurt our country,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

Others in Trump’s inner circle who have testified before the House panel include son-inlaw Jared Kushner, former campaign chiefs Steve Bannon and Corey Lewandowsk­i, exWhite House aide Hope Hicks and current campaign manager Brad Parscale.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States