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Mueller ‘threatened Trump with subpoena’ amid Russia probe (Lead)
Washington, May 2 (IANS) Special counsel Robert Mueller warned Donald Trumps lawyers earlier this year that he would subpoena the President to appear before a grand jury if he refused to talk with his team as part of a probe into alleged Russian election meddling in the 2016 presidential election, the media reported.
Mueller made the comment in response to the Trump legal team’s argument during a March meeting that the President wasn’t obligated to speak to federal investigators in the probe into Russian meddling, the Washington Post reported.
“This isn’t some game,” Trump’s then-lawyer John Dowd reportedly replied. “You are screwing with the work of the President of the US.”
Dowd, who was leading the response to Mueller’s probe on Trump’s personal legal team, abruptly left the legal team in March.
According to the report, in the wake of the March meeting, Trump’s attorneys created a list of questions they believed that Mueller’s team would ask the President during an interview.
Those questions were based off the topics that investigators told Trump’s lawyers they wanted to discuss with the President.
The list of questions, which The New York Times first reported on Monday, included inquiries about the decisions to fire National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey; whether Trump communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the campaign; and the President’s reported attempts to fire Mueller.
Asked whether the President would ever plead the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions, sources told CNN that Trump’s legal team believed there were many “constitutional challenges” that would need to be met before that possibility even would be considered.
Trump railed against the questions in a tweet on Tuesday, claiming that there were “no questions about collusion”, despite several questions about possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian being included on the reported list.
Trump’s lawyers said the President has not shut the door to a possible agreement for an interview. His new legal team is still assessing that before making a recommendation, the sources added.
If Trump refuses to give a voluntary interview, prosecutors could issue a subpoena compelling testimony.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.