Kline assumes responsibility for the White House security clearance process

[ad_1]

"Basically, he's trying to say that's pretty much everyone responsible for it," said Elijah Cummings, chairman of the House of Representatives oversight committee, a Democrat from Maryland. "We need a lot of additional information."

Tricia Newbold, whom the Democrats describe as a whistleblower, accused Kline of approving security clearances for White House officials despite the recommended moves, including for the son-in-law of White House president and chief advisor Jared Kushner. . In 2018, Trump reportedly ordered his chief of staff, John Kelly, to grant Kushner a highly secret security clearance.

But Republicans said Kline's testimony made it clear that he had not been unduly influenced and protected from the country's national security.

"He told us that he had made all the decisions regarding security clearances," said Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio. "It was not the president, it was not the chief of staff of the White House."

"I think the end result is that our national security interests were protected under Mr. Kline," said Rep. Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina.

Members of the House Oversight Committee interrogated Kline privately after a week-long feud over his testimony, which included a subpoena to Congress and the threat of holding him in contempt. The White House finally allowed Kline to testify with the lawyers present, but denied the request for certain documents presented by the committee.

Representative Stephen Lynch, a Massachusetts Democrat, praised Kline for his "frankness" on the security clearance process, including the number of disparaging information cases that Kline has received from candidates. But Lynch said Kline's lawyers opposed direct questions about specific individuals, including Kushner.

"We will fight for this because they have opposed some of the issues," said Lynch. "We have received derogatory information about these people."

Kline left the interview one day without making comments to reporters.

Newbold lawyer Ed Passman told CNN, "My client believes in accountability in our government, we remain confident in US government processes and we hope all parties will their personal interests and the best interests of the national interests. " safety first. "

Cummings said the Democratic members of Congress, favoring the continuation of various investigations rather than at the opening of a presidential impeachment investigation, have become "very impatient" because of the murmur of the executive branch.

"It does not bother them to investigate, but when they find that they have nothing to investigate because we can not get any information, they say" what? Why are you bothering yourself, "Cummings said," I do not know what the White House is trying to push us or put pressure on us. "

Cummings added that Congress must "stop giving up our power and stop giving up our responsibilities and giving them to the president."

"We have to use all the tools we have in the toolbox," he added. "I do not know if it's an indictment or an inherent disregard."

Alex Marquardt of CNN contributed to this report.

[ad_2]

Source link