All eyes are on Washington as Democrats continue their partisan impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Democrats have claimed Trump threatened to withhold military aid from Ukraine unless Zelensky investigated then-Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, for corruption.
But an interesting turn of events recently took place. One of former President Bill Clinton's strategists, Mark Penn, met with Trump to provide advice on how to handle impeachment, The Washington Post reported.
According to those familiar with the meeting, Penn reassured Trump he would not be removed from office. In fact, he told the president to travel the country and talk about the very reason Democrats were pushing impeachment, a similar strategy to what Clinton did more than 20 years ago.
Although Penn offered insight and advice to Trump, he made it very clear he's not working for the president.
“It’s the second time I have ever met with the president. I’m not counseling him. I’m not advising him. I am not working for Donald Trump in any way and I would never do so — either paid or unpaid," Penn said, according to The Hill. "I’ve been dozens of times on TV about events of the day and that was the extent of my comments. I think the country needs all our leaders to focus on governing.”
While Penn worked for the Clinton administration, his focus was to keep an eye on the public's support of the then-president while Republicans pursued impeachment.
Democrats were quick to pounce on the former Clinton official.
All that bootlicking on Fox News finally paid off for Mark Penn. He’s finally a White House insider again!https://t.co/WDwdXqzUzq
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 26, 2019
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It's long past time for any democrat working with or associated with Mark Penn to cut ties. The only silver lining to this to meeting is that Penn has been doling out shitty political advice for decades so hopefully Trump will listen. https://t.co/Or2FxjShRl
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) November 26, 2019
Mark Penn emails just now: "I am categorically not working for him and not counseling him.”
— Sam Stein (@samstein) November 26, 2019
I’m not sure what the deal is here. I’ve asked him if he quibbles with the idea that he’s “counseling.” I’ll report back. https://t.co/RO9O9mBImx
What's the best term for this. Sell out? Desperate for relevancy? Whatever it is, any Democrat still using Mark Penn's services should cut ties. This reeks of Dick Morris. Pathetic. https://t.co/zK0cbh7yiK
— adrienneelrod (@adrienneelrod) November 26, 2019
So Doug Schoen is advising Bloomberg.
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) November 26, 2019
Mark Penn is advising Trump.
Is Dick Morris really gonna sit this one out?
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