Trump Baselessly Claims Adam Schiff Has ‘Doctored’ Impeachment Inquiry Transcripts
President Donald Trump has made the extraordinary claim that recently released transcripts from the impeachment proceedings are ‘doctored’. Trump made the claim on Twitter, where he suggested that the testimony released to the public so far does not represent reality.
“Shifty Adam Schiff will only release doctored transcripts,” Trump said. “We haven’t even seen the documents and are restricted from (get this) having a lawyer. Republicans should put out their own transcripts! Schiff must testify as to why he MADE UP a statement from me, and read it to all!”
Shifty Adam Schiff will only release doctored transcripts. We haven’t even seen the documents and are restricted from (get this) having a lawyer. Republicans should put out their own transcripts! Schiff must testify as to why he MADE UP a statement from me, and read it to all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2019
Trump’s claim comes despite the fact that Republican lawmakers were in the room when the testimony was given and they are quoted in the transcripts, frequently asking questions that support the President’s claim that he did nothing wrong in regard to Ukraine.
Republicans have not claimed that the transcripts are inaccurate, at least so far in the proceedings.
Not a single Republican has claimed the transcripts (which have been reviewed by witness lawyers and publicly released) are inaccurate or incomplete. https://t.co/PdDHFmv3pZ
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) November 11, 2019
If this is a new line of defense from Trump, it may be difficult for his GOP defenders to get behind it. He has repeatedly called his call with the Ukrainian president ‘perfect’, a defense few if any Republicans have picked up. It will be extremely difficult for Republicans to argue that the transcripts have been doctored.
It is highly unlikely that Republicans will release alternative transcripts as none exist. Congressional transcripts are not produced in a partisan way, but by unbiased professionals.
