CNN Senior reporter Annie Grayer reports Republican lawmakers are forming a protective circle around President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the release of a suggestive letter allegedly drawn, signed and sent to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump has denied sending the letter, which features what looks to be Trump’s emblematic signature.
“What has been really interesting to watch here is seeing how quickly Republicans have fallen in line behind Trump's denial in questioning the legitimacy of this letter and whether or not he actually signed it. And these are the same Republicans who have been demanding Congress do more and release more [Epstein-related] documents,” said Grayer, who then played footage of U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.).
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“I've never known Trump to be much of an artist, so I kind of draw that into question,” Burchett told CNN report Manu Raju.
“There's a history of him drawing things,” responded Raju.
“Something that’s been there for four years and now it's just come out. I just don't buy it,” said Burchett. “… I just don't buy any of it right now because we have prior administration that's had a history of dishonesty, and they bring something like this out now? Why wouldn't they bring it out during the campaign?”
Burchett ignored the fact that the birthday card with its signature and suggestive poem only recently reached the House Oversight Committee via the Epstein estate and became eligible for public release.
Democratic Strategist Megan Hayes said she was horrified by Republican efforts to hide the truth.
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“It's disgusting and gross,” Hayes told CNN. “This cover up and this whole situation with Jeffrey Epstein is disgusting and a stain on our justice department, and it just goes to show that if you are rich and powerful, you do not answer the same consequences that other people answer.”
“And also, I would just say the cover up is always worse than the lie, so the more that the White House and the more that people are trying to cover this up, the worse it is going to be,” Hayes added. “This is not going to stop until people have answers and people are held accountable.”
When asked why the Trump administration would bother denying a birthday card signature “when it’s so easy to go check others that look exactly like it,” former Trump administration official Matt Mowers refused to answer.
“If the White House says it’s inauthentic I’ll take them at their word on that,” Mowers said.
Watch the video below or at this link.