NATIONWIDE -- A day after an anonymous op-ed in The New York Times ricocheted across Washington, some lawmakers believe Congress should investigate who wrote it.
- The letter was labeled a "senior administration official", and argued that the president’s leadership is harmful to the republic
- Congressman Mark Meadows said the op-ed made him concerned for national security
- Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) says the president "needs to figure this thing out pretty quickly and resign"
Labeled a “senior administration official” by the Times, the author of the letter argued that the president’s leadership is harmful to the republic.
Congressman Mark Meadows, a key ally of President Donald Trump and the leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said the op-ed made him concerned for national security.
Meadows said his team is exploring possible legislative responses to the op-ed, including investigating who drafted it.
“If you’re having highly sensitive and classified meetings within the Oval Office and you have someone trying to resist those efforts, I think all of us would agree that it is highly unusual,” said the North Carolina Republican.
During a Thursday press conference, Speaker Paul Ryan said he does not see Congress playing a role in figuring out who wrote it, but did call on the author to resign.
“This doesn’t help the president, so if you’re not interested in helping the president, you shouldn’t work for the president as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
The op-ed was just the latest blow for the president this week, coming one day after details began to surface about a book by journalist Bob Woodward. That book apparently paints a toxic picture of the inner workings of the White House.
Democrats meanwhile argue the op-ed should be taken seriously.
“Donald Trump is out of control. He does not have the ability to be the commander-in-chief, executive for the country. And he needs to figure this thing out pretty quickly and resign,” said Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-NC.
In a tweet, the President called the op-ed writer “gutless.” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders called the individual a “coward.”