Corey Lewandowski Testifies

“President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager on Tuesday acknowledged that his former boss enlisted him to try to limit the Russia election interference inquiry but defended Trump and tangled with Democrats during pugnacious testimony to a U.S. congressional panel mulling whether to impeach the president… [The White House had instructed] Lewandowski on Monday not to discuss conversations with Trump after he became president by invoking a doctrine called executive privilege.” (Reuters)

The left is critical of Trump’s attempt to claim executive privilege, Lewandowski’s behavior, and the seeming lack of strategy on the part of Democrats.

“To be clear, the president has no authority to tell a witness not to show up. The president has no absolute immunity to prevent ex-aides from testifying. And he really has no basis for instructing a private citizen who never served in the White House to obstruct an investigation.” (Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post)

The right is generally skeptical about executive privilege applying to Lewandowski’s testimony but condemns the overall investigation as political theater.

“Trump wants to shut down Nadler’s endless investigations and will play the executive privilege card for as long as it works. This looks like one play too many… Lewandowski is, strictly speaking, a civilian when it comes to privilege. Traditionally, executive privilege has been extended toformal advisers to a president. Lewandowski might have been a friend, but he’s never been appointed to a post in the White House, nor did he serve any official role in the transition. Usually, one has to be in the executive branch to qualify for a claim of executive privilege.” (Ed Morrissey, Hot Air)