Trump denies being engaged in cover-up, vows stonewall

WASHINGTON

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected allegations that he is engaged in a cover-up after the House of Representatives’ top-ranking Democrat said his efforts to stonewall congressional subpoenas are tantamount to just that.

Prior to heading to the White House for a meeting on infrastructure with the president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump's efforts to stymy his former officials from heeding congressional subpoenas and refusal to hand over documents to lawmakers amounts to a cover-up.

"We do believe that it's important to follow the facts. We believe that no one is above the law, including the president of the United States, and we believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up," Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol after meeting with House Democrats in a closed-door session.

Trump later told reporters in a hastily-called press conference at the White House after meeting with the top congressional Democrats, including Pelosi, "I don't do cover-ups."

"I'm the most transparent president in the history of this country," he claimed. "Let them play their games."

Trump further insisted that he would not work towards lowering drug prices or make advances on infrastructure until Democrats end their investigations.

“I walked into the room and I told Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi I want to do infrastructure," he said. "But you can’t do it under these circumstances.”

Wednesday's meetings come as the number of Democrats calling for impeachment proceedings against the president continues to grow after at least one Republican, congressman Justin Amash, added his voice to the chorus on Monday.

Pelosi, however, has maintained in the past that impeachment should not begin without sufficient bipartisan support. She did not indicate if that position has changed, though her words were the strongest to date.

Articles of impeachment must be entered and passed by the House before they can be tried in the Senate, according to the Constitution.

Pelosi and top Democrats in the House and Senate have been weary of broaching impeachment, cautious that it may cost the party in the 2020 presidential elections among swing voters and potentially further energize the president's base.