WASHINGTON — Checks and Balances, a group of attorneys organized by George Conway, husband of White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, argued that the “framers of the Constitution” would have regarded President Trump’s conduct in office “as evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors.”
The members’ statement, signed by Conway and others, was issued in response to Bob Mueller’s Russia probe final report.
“The Special Counsel’s investigation was conducted lawfully, and under longstanding Attorney General guidelines. The facts contained in the report reveal that the President engaged in persistent conduct intended to derail, undermine and obstruct ongoing federal investigations. In light of the longstanding Department of Justice legal opinion that a sitting President cannot be indicted, we view it as irrelevant whether there is a prosecutorial recommendation that the crime of obstruction has been committed,” read the statement, issued on Tuesday.
“Instead, we believe that the President’s conduct demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the rule of law — a disregard that is in direct conflict with his constitutional responsibilities, including his commitment under oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,'” the statement read.
The members of the group, which include Jonathan H. Adler and Donald B. Ayer, argued that “information in the report also reveals that the President is willing to abuse presidential authority to pressure or remove Senate-confirmed officials for purposes that undermine lawful functioning of government and to direct subordinates to falsify the record on matters he knew were or likely were under investigation.”
Last month, Trump referred to Mr. Conway as a “stone cold loser” and a “husband from hell.” Trump has also said Conway is doing a “tremendous disservice to a wonderful wife.”
Conway and the members of Checks and Balances criticized Trump for attacking the media and members of the judiciary as well as encouraging “law enforcement officers to violate the law.”
“We believe the framers of the Constitution would have viewed the totality of this conduct as evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. Accordingly, Congress, which carries its own constitutional oversight responsibilities, should conduct further investigation,” read Tuesday’s statement.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member