President Trump blasted House Democrats during a press conference Wednesday morning after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s said he was engaged in a cover-up over the Mueller Russia investigation. “I don’t do cover-ups,” the visibly annoyed president said. “We did nothing wrong. They were out to get us.” He told reporters, “the crime was on the other side.”
Trump also said he would not work with Democrats on a major infrastructure proposal, explaining that they have chosen to go down “investigation track” rather than the “investment track.”
Earlier in the morning Pelosi had told reporters that Democrats believe the “President of the United States has engaged in a cover-up” and that “no one is above the law.”
She made the comments following a closed meeting with fellow Democrats about oversight of the Trump administration. “It was a very positive meeting, a respectful sharing of ideas and I think very impressive presentation by our chairs,” Pelosi said of the meeting.
Pelosi dropped the bomb about Trump engaging in a “cover-up” just prior to attending a bipartisan meeting at the White House regarding the infrastructure project.
A reportedly fuming President Trump held an impromptu press conference in the White House Rose Garden to respond to Pelosi’s allegation.
The president began the by reminding reporters that his administration “is setting records with the economy” and jobs. “We have the best unemployment numbers we’ve had in the history of our country,” he added. “Countries are moving back in. Things are going well.”
Trump said his intention was to work with Democrats on infrastructure today, but he changed his mind after hearing Pelosi’s comments.
“Instead of walking in happily into a meeting, I walk into looking at people that had just said I was doing a cover-up. I don’t do cover-ups,” Trump declared. “You people know that probably better than anybody,” he told the assembled media.
Referring to the Mueller investigation, Trump said he let his former White House counsel speak for thirty hours. He said the special counsel had issued “2,500 subpoenas,” “50 orders authorizing use of pen registers,” and “nearly 500 search warrants.” [Pen registers are surveillance devices that capture the phone numbers dialed on outgoing telephone calls.]
He said the special counsel’s team was made up of 19 special counsel lawyers, and 40 FBI agents and that there had been around 500 witnesses interviewed during the probe.
“And of the 19 people who were heading up this investigation–or whatever you want to call it–with Bob Mueller–they were contributors to the Democrat party, most of them and to Hillary Clinton,” Trump pointed out.
“These are the people that after two years, and $40 million or $35 million–it will end up being a lot more than that–this is what happened. No collusion, no obstruction, no nothing,” the president said, repeating a favorite refrain.
“And then I have Nancy Pelosi go out and say that ‘the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up,” Trump added indignantly.
He told reporters that the number of investigations he has already sustained has been unprecedented, “and we did nothing wrong. They were out to get us. They would have loved to say we colluded. These people were out to get us.”
He added: “This was a one-sided, horrible thing … The bottom line is they said there was no collusion. No collusion with Russia,” Trump repeated.
“The crime was committed on the other side,” Trump added. “This whole thing was a take-down attempt of the president of the United States.”
Trump chastised the media for the role they played in peddling the collusion hoax to the public.
“And honestly, you should be ashamed of yourselves for the way you reported so dishonestly. Not all of you, but many of you,” he said.
As for the working with Democrats, Trump said, “I’ve said from the beginning–right from the beginning, that you probably can’t go down two tracks. You can go down the investigation track and you can go down the investment track–or the track of ‘let’s get things done for the American people.”
“We can solve the problem at the border in 15 minutes if the Democrats would give us a few votes, Trump said. “So I just wanted to let you know, that I walked into the room and I told Senator Schumer, Speaker Pelosi ‘I want to do infrastructure. I want to do it more than you want to do it. I’d be really good at it. That’s what I do. But you know what? You can’t do it under these circumstances. So get these phony investigations over with,” he told reporters.
“In the meantime, we’re doing tremendous work without them,” the president declared, citing his many executive orders and the cutting of regulations.
Referring to the Russia investigation, he said: “I don’t speak to Russians about campaigns. When I went to Wisconsin and Michigan and Pennsylvania, I didn’t say, ‘oh lets call Russia’ … it’s a hoax! The greatest hoax in history.”
A reporter asked the president if he considers Congress to be a co-equal branch of government and whether he respects their power of oversight.
“I respect the courts, I respect Congress, I respect right here where we’re standing,” Trump answered. “But what they’ve done is abuse. This is investigation number four of the same thing–probably five. And it really probably started at the time we came down the escalator at Trump Tower.”
The president concluded the presser by telling reporters that he would continue to get a lot done without the Democrats’ help.
“Let them play their games. We’re going to go down one track at a time,” Trump said.
As he walked off, one particularly loud reporter bellowed, “Mr President have you read the Mueller report?”
President Trump also took to Twitter Wednesday to rail against the Democrats:
Everybody, including me, thought that when the 40 Million Dollar Mueller Report was released with No Collusion and No Obstruction (of a crime caused by others), that was the end. But no, the Democrats want to keep it going in an effort to help them in 2020. Bad for the Country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019
“He (Jerry Nadler) wants a show. He wants to use Mr. McGahn as a prop to spend three hours claiming that Mr. Trump tried to obstruct the Mueller investigation. YET MR. MUELLER WASN’T OBSTRUCTED IN ANY WAY, HIS COPIOUS REPORT WAS RELEASED FOR ALL TO SEE, & THERE WAS NO COLLUSION..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019
..BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. Mr. McGahn can be forgiven for declining the honor of appearing in Mr. Nadler’s pseudo-impeachment drama.”
Wall Street Journal Editorial Board
Today – May 21, 2019— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019
As I have long been saying, and has now been proven out, this is a Witch Hunt against the Republican Party and myself, and it was the other side that caused the problem, not us!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019
So sad that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer will never be able to see or understand the great promise of our Country. They can continue the Witch Hunt which has already cost $40M and been a tremendous waste of time and energy for everyone in America, or get back to work….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019
….In the meantime, my Administration is achieving things that have never been done before, including unleashing perhaps the Greatest Economy in our Country’s history….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019
….Democrat leadership is tearing the United States apart, but I will continue to set records for the American People – and Nancy, thank you so much for your prayers, I know you truly mean it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019