Trump attacks press as Russia scandal swirls around Jeff Sessions
23 July 2017 4:44 PM GMT
Donald Trump's haphazard attempt to relaunch his communications operationafter six months as president will face its first test next week, when his son-in-law testifies about alleged links to Russia.
The appointment as communications director of Anthony Scaramucci, a financier with little experience but a feisty New York style that Trump admires, led to the resignation of press secretary Sean Spicer and suggested that White House messaging could take on an even more combative tone. On Saturday, Trump duly fired off 10 tweets on topics ranging from healthcare to old rival Hillary Clinton to the Russia investigations that continue to haunt him.
Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, responded on the same medium: "Glad to see new communications director has things under control. The stream of consciousness strategy never fails, right?"
The president's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is due to speak behind closed doors with the Senate intelligence committee on Monday and House intelligence committee on Tuesday. Donald Trump Jr and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort are set to undergo private interviews with the Senate judiciary committee on a date yet to be determined.
Trump associates are also under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller and Manafort – who bought three New York properties between 2006 and 2013, including one in Trump Tower in Manhattan – could be put under pressure to cooperate because of money laundering accusations against him, Reuters reported on Saturday, citing two unnamed sources.
Russia dominated the first half year of the Trump presidency and this week, billed as "Made in America week" to champion homegrown manufacturing, was no different. First it emerged that the president had a second, previously undisclosed meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin at the G20 meeting in Hamburg.
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