Prince May Have Lied to Congress

News  |  Mar 8, 2019

In an interview on Al Jazeera's "Head to Head" program, host Mehdi Hasan asks Blackwater founder Erik Prince why he claimed to have no official or unofficial role with the Trump campaign but failed to reveal he attended a Trump Tower meeting on August 3, 2016 with Donald Trump Jr., Stephen Miller, George Nader, and Joel Zamel

Prince says he mentioned the meeting as part of the investigations, but Hasan points out that he did not when asked specifically during his testimony whether he had any formal contacts or communications with the campaign.  

Prince says he attended the August 3, 2016 Trump Tower meeting to discuss Iran policy. When Hasan asks why Prince did not disclose that information, Prince insists again he did. Hasan says he didn't because it's not in the transcript, and Prince replies, "I don't know if they got the transcript wrong."

Hasan points out Prince could be in trouble given Special Counsel Robert Mueller's success in charging Trump associates with lying to Congress. 

Hasan also asks Prince about his better-known meeting in the Seychelles with a Russian banker tied to Putin. Prince refuses to say much but repeats the assertion their unexpected encounter lasted just one beer.

Mueller likely has evidence to the contrary. 

Blackwater's Erik Prince: Iraq, privatising wars and Trump (Al Jazeera)