Schiff Dings Trump Jr. but Won’t Say What He’s Done Wrong

California Representative Adam Schiff said on Sunday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller should investigate Donald Trump, Jr. for possibly lying to Congress about his June 2016 meeting with Russians peddling dirt on Hillary Clinton.

But on ABC’s “This Week” Schiff did not identify what specific false statements the younger Trump made in 2017 to the House Intelligence Committee which he now chairs.

Host George Stephanopolous asked Schiff if he agreed with charges from his fellow California Representative and House Intelligence Committee Member, Jackie Speir, that the younger Trump had lied to the Committee “on at least two occasions” when he testified.

“Well, I’d like the special counsel to have access to Don Jr.’s testimony and determine whether it is evidence of — of false statements,” Schiff replied. “I think — and I greatly appreciate the seriousness with which the special counsel takes lying to Congress — so I’ll let Bob Mueller be the judge of that.

“But one of the first acts, if not the first act, of our committee will be to send all of these transcripts of all the witnesses to Bob Mueller so that he can consider whether additional perjury charges are warranted,” Schiff continued.

Mueller has had the transcripts all along

Stephanopoulos seemed skeptical about Schiff’s claim, suggesting Mueller would have known by now if Trump, Jr. had lied.

The ABC News host asked Schiff, “So are you confident that Robert Mueller and this team have not yet seen any of those transcripts?”

“No, I believe the special counsel has had access to the transcripts, but not for the purpose of use in a perjury prosecution,” Schiff replied. “So that’s what we want to make sure that the special counsel has access to these transcripts and can use them for whatever purpose including perjury prosecution or witness intimidation or obstruction of justice.”

Trump, Jr. testified for seven hours before the House Intelligence Committee behind closed doors for seven hours in December 2017. He denied telling his father in advance about the Trump Tower meeting said he discussed it afterwards. Paul Manafort, the Trump campaign chairman, and son-in-law Jared Kushner also attended the meeting.Trump Jr. told the Committee he had not spoken to his father about a misleading statement he gave to the New York Times in 2017 about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting, claiming it concerned Russian adoptions.

The President’s lawyer have since conceded he dictated the statement. But Trump Jr. told the Committee he discussed the statement only with then-Communications director Hope Hicks.

Trump, Jr. and Schiff have been sparring lately.

Last week on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show the President’s son accused Schiff of leaking inaccurate versions of his testimony in order to embarrass the White House.

Schiff’s spokesman denied the charge.