Published 14:01 IST, September 27th 2019
White House dusts off playbook from Russia investigation amid pressure
The White House, which was caught off guard by the recent whistleblower's complaints, is using similar playbook as the special counsel's Russia investigation
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The White House, which was caught off guard by the recent whistleblower's complaints, is dusting off the playbook used for the special counsel's Russia investigation. He claimed that the United States President Donald Trump pressured the Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the former Vice President Joe Biden's son. Following this, an official inquiry was launched by the House of Democrats into President Trump and was announced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Presidential side is struggling to respond. However, for now, they are turning to strategies similar to that used to counter special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
Strategies by the White House
The basic tactics implied by the White House were to discredit the officials in the government which were involved in the core of the story. The US President's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, along with other allies were introduced a confusing picture of the case. They were also dependent on Republicans in Congress to provide help. And most importantly, the counter-attacks by Donald Trump, who has been defended himself from doing anything wrong since the whistleblower's complaints, were made public. President Trump further said that there “Can't be a better testimony than that”. Moreover, the entire incident is being addressed as “a Witch Hunt”.
The President of Ukraine said that he was NOT pressured by me to do anything wrong. Can’t have better testimony than that! As V.P., Biden had his son, on the other hand, take out millions of dollars by strong arming the Ukrainian President. Also looted millions from China. Bad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2019
A whistleblower with second hand information? Another Fake News Story! See what was said on the very nice, no pressure, call. Another Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2019
The Special Counsel investigation
It was also called Russia investigation, or the Mueller probe and the Mueller investigation. The investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 elections of the United States and the links between President Trump's associates with the Russian officials. This was conducted by a special prosecutor, Robert Mueller from May 2017 to May 2019. Since mid-2016, the investigative officers kept a tab on the activities of Russian operatives and by the presidential campaign members. Nearly 34 individuals and three companies were indicted by the investigators.
(With inputs from AP)
11:18 IST, September 27th 2019