Trump amps up complaints, says Pelosi may be guilty of treason
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Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi speaks at a press conference in Washington, on Oct 2, 2019.
PHOTO: DPA
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WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (Oct 6) launched a direct attack on House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying she could be guilty of treason for what he claimed was her knowledge of a top Democrat's characterisation of his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Nancy Pelosi knew of all of the many Shifty Adam Schiff lies and massive frauds perpetrated upon Congress and the American people," Mr Trump tweeted, referring to House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff.
Mr Trump has attacked Mr Schiff for his characterisation of a call the President held with Mr Zelensky, and he has said, without evidence, that Mr Schiff helped draft the whistle-blower complaint at the heart of the inquiry.
During the July 25 call, Mr Trump pressed Mr Zelensky for an investigation into former US vice-president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, according to a summary of the call released by the Trump administration.
Democrats say Mr Trump's effort was an abuse of power to gather dirt on a political rival.
Mr Schiff, who was tagged by Ms Pelosi to lead the impeachment investigation, said during a hearing last month that the summary read like a "classic organised crime shakedown".
Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked Mr Schiff for his characterisation of the call. Mr Schiff has said it was "meant to be at least part in parody".
A spokesman for Mr Schiff's committee acknowledged last week that the whistle-blower approached the panel for guidance before filing his complaint about Mr Trump's efforts to push Ukraine to pursue an investigation into the Bidens, but there is no evidence that Mr Schiff or the panel helped draft the complaint.
Mr Trump referred to both Mr Schiff's characterisation of his call with Mr Zelensky and the whistle-blower's approach to the House Intelligence Committee in his e-mail targeting Ms Pelosi.
"This makes Nervous Nancy every bit as guilty as Liddle' Adam Schiff for High Crimes and Misdemeanors, and even Treason," he said on Twitter. "I guess that means that they, along with all of those that evilly 'Colluded' with them, must all be immediately Impeached!"
