Schumer invites Trump to testify before Senate

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday invited President Trump to testify about his claims that former FBI Director James Comey lied under oath.

“I’d like to invite the president to testify before the Senate,” Schumer told host John Dickerson on CBS News’s “Face the Nation.”

Schumer said Trump could clear up the “cloud” surrounding his presidency if he testifies or publicly releases the tapes he alluded to documenting his interactions with former FBI Director James Comey.

{mosads}“There are two ways to clear up that cloud. One, if there are tapes, he alluded to the fact that there are tapes, maybe as a threat or taunting Comey. He should make them public right away. If there aren’t tapes, he should let that be known. No more game playing,” Schumer said.

“And of course, he said he would testify. So I’m inviting him to come testify, and we could work that out,” Schumer continued, adding that the president appears to be taking the issue “almost a little bit lightly.”

Trump at a press conference on Friday denied Comey’s account that he asked the FBI director to let “go” of his investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn or that he asked Comey to pledge his loyalty to him. Trump also said he’s “100 percent” willing to repeat his comments about Comey under oath after being asked if he would provide Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia probe, with a sworn statement.

Schumer said on Sunday he would coordinate a “dignified, public” hearing with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Mueller.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who appeared on the same show as the Senate minority leader, said Trump’s public testimony would be a “circus.”  

“I think it’s inappropriate for the president to testify publicly,” Graham said. “If you want to come to the Judiciary Committee and testify under oath, we’ll put Comey right by you, it’d be the highest-rated TV show in the history of the world. But it’s not good for our democracy.”