Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Monday denied that he pressed the Ukrainian government to put two U.S. businessmen on the board of the state energy company or that he was planning to leave the Trump administration.
Perry's comments at a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, come amid growing scrutiny into the Trump administration's diplomacy in Ukraine, which has triggered a House impeachment inquiry into whether the president withheld aid to the country in exchange for a pledge from President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son.
Perry also said he discussed the issue of corruption broadly with Zelensky and his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, but only as part of an effort to make the nation more appealing for energy investment opportunities. No public evidence has emerged to show that Perry asked Zelensky to investigate Biden and his son Hunter.
It's ok to make the call. It's not ok to do crimes on the call.
I believe that he is splitting hairs. Trumps phone call and directives had three parts. First and foremost, pressuring a foreign government to dig up dirt on a political opponent. Second, to clear Russia for influencing the 2016 election. Finally (Perry) manipulating Ukraine gas.
This hack didn’t even know what the Department of Energy was when he was running for the presidency. Pathetic.
Well, now who do you think is lying? Perry isn't the brightest light bulb in the box; Trump is a seasoned liar.
He and Rudy trying to make their buddies get more treats from the Ukes? Sniff...sniff.... I smell something fishy!
How dumb.
Are they really trying to pull an Iran/Contra, in which Oliver North took one for the team?
Another tRump ball licker.
Hey, Politico, did Perry also instruct Trump to attempt to extort the Ukrainian president? What do you think is being explained here?
'And when the president asked me to kiss his ass, I kissed it multiple times.' ~ Rick Perry
So what, it's on him that he pressured the prez of Ukraine to commit to investigating Biden before he’d release the military funding!
GovernorPerry SecretaryPerry LyingSackOfShit NoSpine
Thank you, Mr. Perry!
Unless he had a gun to his head...it's completely irrelevant whether anyone asked him to do it or not. It's the fact that he did it. How many more excuses are going to come down the pike?
Did he tell him to ask them to investigate Biden? And no legal advisor told trump how inappropriate that would be?
wimp
1.) Perry is leaving. 2.) He needs Trump's ability to pardon him* *Why would Perry need Trum to pardon him?
What in the world?
Falling on his sword is not helping the President at all. Whether he told him or I did, it was still illegal and blatant! He's an idiot for doubling down and adding his name to the conspiracy! Fool!
Grow balls
Can you say: 'Scape goat'? Or 'Sacraficial Lamb'...better yet: 'Stooge'.
So, you asked him to call, you didn't make the prez press the new Ukrainian president for dirt on Bidens! He broke the law on his own! He must pay.
sycophant Corrupt
Perry is missing the point. Even if he talked Trump into making the call he didn't tell Trump to try blackmail the Ukrainian president into investigating Biden and son. Don't let GOP obfuscation deflect from the truth.
Your tweet is misleading.
Trump 2.0
Are you going to ask him to jump in the Potomac
Why do you have the word “true” in “ “!? Idiots.
why? it should be obvious by now that Trump will blame those around him for his stupid moves.
What bunch of backward thinking persons, they all must go.
Usually sacrificial lambs aren’t voluntary, but this is the GOP trying to save their self-proclaimed chosen one.
Better get a lawyer Rick. The next AG won’t protect you like Barr
Now this is loyalty someone willing to do jail time for you!
What if Russia or North Korea 'pressed' Trump, is he going to cave to them too?
What call? The perfect call? He’s bragging that he pushed Trump to make a perfect call. How weird.
Yes, he asked him to call, but he did not ask him to ask about biden
I'd say Perry is a LYING sack of shit. 💩💩💩💩💩💩
This is the guy who wanted to disband his own Department, but couldn’t think of which one it was. How reliable is he?
So what? Trump asked for the investigation into Biden. Not Rick Perry. ImpeachTrumpNow
STHU with that BS
Really. Do anybody believes this clown? This minion wants to be the fall guy now. He got position in the WH now he has to pay it back. What a farce!
And, with that assertion he miraculously gets to keep his job.
SecretaryPerry is digging his own grave. This display of reverence for the Crook-In-Chief is more foolish than his stunt at dwts
These sycophants of trump would sell their mothers and daughters into the sex trade for trump.
PROPAGANDA IT DOESN'T FRICKIN' MATTER IF PERRY DIALED THE PHONE FOR TRUMP. THE 'FAVOR' TRUMP ASKED FOR IS ALL THAT MATTERS. IT IS PROHIBITED BY THE CONSTITUTION. ImpeachTrump
Bless his heart. He truly has no idea that he just implicated himself in a crime.
Maybe Trump was looking for the 1.8 billion that Obama gave the Ukraine and dissapeared. That was taxpayer money that disappeared.
Did you tell Him to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate his political rival as well?
And....? Your point? The orange Clown made the call. Full stop.
Just tell us who committed treason, him alone or both of you.
Democrats are so corrupt.
Impeach him.
I was proud. I thought he was leaving on principle. Turns out he's just another court jester. Oh, well. I've been disappointed before.
SecretaryPerry you’re volunteering to be the scapegoat?
Where's the transcript?
Oh Pleeeeease😮😳total🌪🌪🌪🌪
Okay? Was the plot to Extort also part of that conversation? If not p look ease take a seat and stop with the diversion and obfuscation!!!
Would u change ur answer if it meant u’ll go to jail?
Thank You .
Duh. If someone asked me to rob a bank, and I did, I can just blame the guy for telling me and I'm off the hook, right? Deplorables DrainTheSwamp TrumpTaxReturns
And Trump’s humiliation of the GOP continues
Guess he plans on staying?
Uh huh. Falling on that sword I see. Trumples still pressed for wanting dirt on the competition for an exchange.
Check his bank account
Falling on his sword. Check his bank account
Didn't he see what happened to Cohen?
Then tell Trump to kiss my ass. Let’s test this “he do what I say” theory.
Those glasses make you look so very smart. A really smart guy like you would help a friend out.
🎶The wheels on the bus go round and round 🎶
Perry’s finally useful for something: The Fall Guy!
What do you call someone that breaks the law because someone else told them to? Answer: A criminal
Idiots seem to congregate together.
Still not hearing what was wrong here. We have a treaty with Ukraine, and President Trump asking them to investigate corruption in 2016 is far from a crime. My question is why isn’t it any of the Democrats worried about Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi’s kids getting wealthy
🎶and you sold your soul to the company store...🎶
Shame on you if you did it and shame on you if you are lieying to protect Trump
seems to me trump makes his own decisions and does what he wants, no matter who advises him or asks him to do stuff. It was HIS decision, HIS call, HIS extortion attempt, HIM asking a foreign power to interfere in the US election, HIS treason.
Are his children being held hostage? Something worse?
Put him in front of Schiff and see how he answers questions.
Another self-confessed Traitor. Lock him up, too.
Oops
Is this meant to be anything? trump makes his own decisions, as he incessantly reminds us
You’re toast with Trump, Rick. Pack your bags.
SecretaryPerry Rick, are you going to press Donald Trump to resign too? He seems to value your input.
What he is doing here is feeding the spin. Trump didnt do what he is saying he told him to do here. This was NEVER about corruption in Ukraine. This was about Biden.
Does anyone really believe the dancing queen had the power to persuade trump to call Urkrane? Hahahaha
in the words of Chrissy Teigen..PAB!
scandalous. a government official doing his job. i mean, the brazenness of it all.
Perry also said he discussed the issue of corruption broadly with the Ukraine president and his predecessor, but only as part of an effort to make the nation more appealing for energy investment opportunities.