House Democrats think Chris Christie could help them get around Trump's executive privilege
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
House Democrats reportedly have a new plan for getting around executive privilege in their obstruction of justice investigation — and it involves former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Lawmakers are planning on "expanding their circle of testimony" and bringing in individuals who made appearances in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report but never actually served in President Trump's administration, such as Christie, as well as former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and former campaign chair Paul Manafort, Politico reported on Monday. Former deputy campaign chair Rick Gates is also mentioned as a possibility.
Part of the idea behind seeking information from these individuals, the report says, would be to find a way to get around Trump's claims of executive privilege. These associates do come up in the Mueller report, though. For example, one section of the report recalls a lunch between Trump and Christie during which Trump talked about having fired former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, which Trump said meant that the "Russia thing is over." Trump, according to the report, also asked Christie to call then-FBI Director James Comey, a request Christie ignored, thinking it "nonsensical."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The White House has been repeatedly blocking House Democrats in their investigations, and they might make it a challenge to obtain information from confidants like Christie as well, with a deputy White House counsel saying last month that executive privilege doesn't necessarily just concern "communications directly involving the President and other Executive Branch officials."
Asked for comment about the possibility that he could be called to testify before Congress, Christie told Politico, "No comment, my friend."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
How the FCC’s ‘equal time’ rule worksIn the Spotlight The law is at the heart of the Colbert-CBS conflict
-
What is the endgame in the DHS shutdown?Today’s Big Question Democrats want to rein in ICE’s immigration crackdown
-
‘Poor time management isn’t just an inconvenience’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
