It's great that Schumer is challenging Trump to testify under oath, but what if he just lies?

[Miles Archer]

Don't get me wrong...I applaud him for doing it. But what reason do we have to believe that Trump won't simply lie under oath? What do we stand to gain from that?

‘He’s got to step up to the plate’: Schumer challenges Trump to testify before Congress under oath



“I would like to invite the President to testify before the Senate,” Schumer said on Face the Nation. “I think we could work out a way it could be dignified, public, with questions, with Leader McConnell.”

“The fact that he’s new, the fact that he may not say things so seriously, that’s not an excuse. He’s the president of the United States and he’s got to step up to the plate,” Schumer said during the interview.

He added that they would consult with Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller when and if the president agreed to the testimony.

Fox News noted that Schumer appears to be taking the president up on his statement claiming he is “100 percent” willing to speak under oath about his interactions with Comey and contradict the narrative the former FBI director presented in his testimony last week.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/hes-got-to-step-up-to-the-plate-schumer-challenges-trump-to-testify-before-congress-under-oath/

[elleng]

1. He will surely lie; it's what he does.

There will be evidence of some sort re: SOME of his lies, and SOME of his lies will trip him up; it's a matter of time.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. The Committee will be prepared and will be expecting him to lie.

All attorneys expect adversaries to lie.

Here's what you do:

1. You get all testimony (depositions/sworn statements) and documents ready for the hearing. Obviously you don't tell the other side what information you've got.

2. You get the witness (Trump) where he can't figure out where you're going with your line of questioning. He either lies, makes inconsistent statements, or tells part of the truth.

3.THEN YOU IMPEACH HIM. You show him contradictory information that proves he's lying. He either tells a new lie upon the old lie or he's flummoxed. It's a beautiful thing.

4. And he's caught telling a lie that he can't explain on the record.

[LesterKasai]

3. I don't think Trump is masterful enough to lie to congress, and still keep his lies straight.

Trump will have to lie to cover a previous lie to cover a different lie. It's very hard to do that consistently for hours. Most likely he will get frustrated and lash out.

[Mr. Ected]

4. Ask Bill Clinton how Republicans react to perjured testimony

When the culprit is a Democrat in the Oval Office.

Compare and contrast to their reaction when the liar is a (so-called) Republican.

Situational ethics. Disparate application of punishment. False equivocation. Party over country.

Freakin' GOP.

[loyalsister]

5. A better question is how did Clinton's own party respond

He became a martyr and the party never abandoned him. Clinton's lie was even proven with DNA evidence.
Rs will require something even stronger before they abandon 45 and their imagined uncontested ownership of all 3 branches.

[bettyellen]

6. Gore abandoned him and it made him look like a self righteous prig.

Never saw Clinton as a martyr, I'd say punching bag was more accurate.

[loyalsister]

8. Maybe in your opinion

Gore's decency stood in contrast without a single word from him on it. He is revered by a whole lot of Democrats largely based on claiming victim status (beginning with labeling himself "the comeback kid&quot , he is most certainly a self declared martyr.
Excess Clinton loyalty is a disappointing phenomenon that is a pretty good indication of how republicans will protect 45.

[bettyellen]

10. I don't think overheated rhetoric like saying you comeback from martyrdom....

(Because you literally can't come back from martyrdom) is helpful or at all accurate. Nor is drawing false analogies to the GOP toward Dems who do not hate Clinton. It's falling for the GOP's framing and they're complete hypocrites. The Clinton years weren't perfect but they were much better than any of the GOP presidencies.

[loyalsister]

15. Seriously??

I was saying based on how Clinton was treated there is reason to believe that Rs will continue to rally around 45 in the same way or even moreso because they dig in deeper when it comes to partisan loyalty.

[bettyellen]

16. I don't think it's just Clintons that get treated that way. Kerry was "hated" for no reason

And it would have been disgusting to watch no matter who the candidate.

I dont see the rallying around Trump as having anything to do with Dems. It's just what they do- manufacturer outrage, and fake heavy support if you don't have it.

Sorry I might be misunderstanding your point.

[loyalsister]

17. Partisan loyalty is all the same

As shallow as fraternity loyalty.

[bettyellen]

18. I don't see a huge loyalty. I feel like they got shafted big time and a lot of Dems piled on too.

[mcar]

7. Then he's committed perjury

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

9. what if he just lies?

The man lacks the capacity to not lie.

[Bucky]

22. What's most insulting however is how bad he is at it

He doesn't even try to come up with plausible ways of convincing people. He just spews what he wants to believe even when he knows it's not true. If you're going to lie to me, at least put in a decent effort

[marylandblue]

11. Because "testifying" doesn't just mean you go to Congress and make a pre-written statement

Of course he will lie. That's the point. But then he will be cross-examined by hostile Democrats. They will point out his lies and ask him to explain in real time. He will then, of course, lie some more. He will have to keep it up for hours. He's been in such situations before, and he has never done well in them. Never.

And of course, lying under oath is a crime. It won't even be a question as to whether he perjured himself or not. Multiple times. Plus, he will obviously have done it to cover up one or more other crimes. So that will be at least two different crimes. And Mueller will be watching. As will the voters. If he doesn't pay for his crimes through an indictment, he will pay at the ballot box. Caveat: As long as Democrats have a platform beyond "Trump is a criminal."

[tblue37]

12. Lying under oath (about a purely personal matter) is what they impeached Clinton for.

Lying under oath about what is treason or treason's identical twin and about obstruction in a case touching on national security is a big f***ng deal.

[greymattermom]

13. A question about perjury

If you make two contradictory statements under oath, can you be charged with perjury, or do they have to know which of the statements is true first?

[pnwmom]

20. Well, in Florida it's perjury. Probably other states have this law, too.

http://law.justia.com/codes/florida/2010/TitleXLVI/chapter837/837_021.html

[MFM008]

14. What if?

Oh you kid. Lol.
Of course he's going to lie.

[pnwmom]

19. Hopefully he will lie

about something that can be proven to be a lie.

That's perjury. Yet another Impeachment article.

[Bucky]

21. I think the whole point of getting Trump under oath is to watch him lie

It's not like he's any good at it

[Leith]

23. What If He Just Lies? I'm Counting on It

and, I suspect, so is Schumer.