Trump: I may have to force Justice Department to turn over documents
by Pete Kasperowicz
Washington Examiner
August 23, 2018 07:23 AM
President Trump is threatening to force his Justice Department to hand over documents Republicans have sought for months about its investigation into his campaign.
Trump has said for months that he didn't want to get involved. But in a Fox News interview that aired Thursday, he said he may have to step in.
"At the right time, I think I'm going to have to do the documents," he said when asked if he would use his power to force the department to act.
"I didn't want to, but I think I'm going to have to. There's such corruption," he added.
Republicans have been pressing the Justice Department for documents that detail the decisions it made about investigations into Trump's campaign, as well as Hillary Clinton's private email server.
Republicans in recent weeks have said a top official in the department, Bruce Ohr, was in contact with Christopher Steele, who wrote the disputed "Trump dossier" that was used to justify surveillance on a former Trump campaign adviser.
The Justice Department has said it has handed over thousands of documents to satisfy the GOP request, but Republicans have said it's not enough. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said documents handed over in early August were redacted and "essentially blank."
FBI responds to a FOIA request, on their contacts with Christopher Steele, by releasing 71 essentially blank pages on a Friday night. Ridiculous. Washington Examiner @dcexaminer
FBI releases heavily redacted documents on Trump dossier author
https://washex.am/2LYGPGP
8:19 PM - Aug 3, 2018
Trump said the "corruption" in the department dates back to the Obama administration.
"Before I got here, it's from before I got here. It's the Obama administration," he said. "They surveilled my campaign, it's very simple."
"As I've said, I wanted to stay uninvolved. It's a very, very sad day," he added.
