BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) - A Western New York political operative and former campaign aide for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump is one of more than 80 people or entities contacted by the House Judiciary Committee, which is now looking into alleged misdeeds by the president. Michael Caputo says he has little to offer what he describes as a Democratic effort to pave a path toward inevitable impeachment.
Caputo testified last year before a Congressional panel and to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team about alleged Russian attempts to influence the 2016 elections. If called to testify again before the House Judiciary Committee, he will do so but suggests he has next to nothing to offer.
"The requests they made of me are of information regarding a meeting that I did not attend and I did not know about," Caputo said. "And as for email correspondence and other communication between myself and some people from the campaign, as well as some random Russians, my presentation to the Judiciary Committee will be a very slim envelope."
He insists there was no collusion between Trump and Russian interests. House panelists, though, appear to be digging for information not directly related to alleged collusion but rather alleged obstruction of justice, corruption and abuses of power by the president. Caputo says it's a Democratic effort to clear a pathway toward inevitable impeachment.
"Remember, impeachment is about high crimes and misdemeanors. But who gets to define that? the Democrats, as the majority, get to define what a high crime and a misdemeanor is," he said. "If they find that the president jaywalked against the light in New York City, they'll impeach him for that."
The House investigation into alleged wrongdoings is the broadest since Democrats regained power in that branch of Congress. Others included on the list of people or institutions contacted for documents include President Trump's sons Donald Jr. and Eric, son-in-law Jared Kushner, the US Department of Justice, former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, Cambridge Analytica and the National Rifle Association.
Caputo predicts Trump will eventually be impeached but the Senate, led by a Republican majority, will not convict him.