White House Rejects Dem Request For Docs On Trump-Putin Communications - Counsel

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) Documents related to communications between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be released because the information might be exploited for political purposes which would hinder the administration's ability to conduct foreign policy, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said in a letter to Democratic congressional leaders on Thursday.

Earlier in March, the chairmen of three US House oversight committees had requested documents and transcribed interviews related to multiple conversations between Trump and Putin. The Democratic lawmakers made a similar request in February.

"The President must be free to engage in discussions with foreign leaders without fear that those communications will be disclosed and used as fodder for partisan political purposes," the letter said.

Moreover, Cipollone said foreign leaders also must be assured this information will not be released and used to advance US domestic political agendas.

"No foreign leader would engage in private conversations with the President, or the President's senior advisors, if such conversations were subject to public disclosure (or disclosure to committees of Congress)," the letter said.

The White House lawyer, in addition, said that because the US Constitution entrusts the conduct of foreign relations exclusively to the executive branch, Congress cannot demand disclosure of information related to such conduct.

The letter concluded by saying the White House will continue to follow well-established precedent to protect the ability of the current and future presidents to manage US foreign affairs and conduct diplomacy.