BUDGET/RUDY GIULIANI/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump on Wednesday [12-5-19] downplayed his personal attorney’s multiple phone conversations with someone in the Office of Management and Budget, dismissing records made public Tuesday [12-3-19] as ‘no big deal.’ Speaking with reporters during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump was asked about the series of calls in August, which were disclosed in phone records obtained for the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment report. But despite Giuliani having little conceivable role in the federal budgeting process, Trump argued Wednesday there was nothing untoward about Giuliani’s contact with OMB. As he’s often done throughout the investigations plaguing his presidency, Trump directed reporters to ask his lawyer about what he was doing calling the budget office.”
–Caitlin Oprysko, “Trump waves away questions about Giuliani’s phone calls with OMB,” Politico, December 4, 2019 10:55 am