Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonGOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by National Association of Manufacturers – Trump defends Ukraine motives while attacking Biden Trump administration floats background check proposal to Senate GOP MORE (R-Wis.) is warning the Trump administration against releasing the transcript of a call between President TrumpDonald John TrumpNYT publisher: US didn’t step in to protect reporter from arrest in Egypt so paper turned to Ireland Trump instructed administration to withhold military aid for Ukraine days before call with president: report More Democrats threaten impeachment over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine MORE and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying it could have a chilling effect on talks with other heads of state.

 

“It’s a very dangerous precedent, and I think it’s going to really harm any president, whether it’s this president or a future president’s ability to talk to world leaders candidly,” Johnson told reporters on Monday. 

 

ADVERTISEMENT

He added that releasing the call transcript “would be the worst possible precedent.”

 

“This is not something that Congress necessarily has to have its hands on,” he said. 

 

The president is facing calls, including from some within his own party, to release the transcript of his conversation with Zelensky, which is reportedly linked to a whistleblower complaint.

 

Reports surfaced over the weekend that Trump and his attorney Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiTrump mocks Romney with video contrasting their presidential bids Murphy blasts GOP on whistleblower response: ‘We’re watching this country turn into a banana republic’ GOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ MORE attempted to persuade Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump instructed administration to withhold military aid for Ukraine days before call with president: report More Democrats threaten impeachment over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine Seven Freshman Democrats pen op-ed urging Congress to impeach Trump if new allegations are true MORE or his son Hunter Biden, who had business dealings in the country.

 

Trump appeared to acknowledge on Sunday that he had discussed Joe Biden on the call with Zelensky. But he said on Monday that he did not threaten to withhold aid to Ukraine unless they investigated the Biden family.

 

“I did not make a statement that you have to do this or I’m not going to give you aid,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

 

He’s also sent mixed signals about whether he’ll authorize the transcript of the call to be released. 

 

“I can do it very easily, but I would rather not do it from the standpoint of all of the other conversations I had. I may do it because it was a very innocent call on both his part and mine,” Trump told reporters on Monday before a meeting with the president of Poland. 

 

Whether Trump should release the transcript has become an early point of contention. 

 

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamMurphy blasts GOP on whistleblower response: ‘We’re watching this country turn into a banana republic’ GOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ Overnight Defense — Presented by Huntington Ingalls Industries — Trump at the United Nations | Ukraine controversy, Iran take center stage | Trump denies threatening military aid to Ukraine on call | Senate Dems to force vote on border emergency MORE (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, has urged him to be as “transparent as possible,” while Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyTrump mocks Romney with video contrasting their presidential bids GOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ Romney: Administration should hand over Ukraine transcript MORE (R-Utah) told reporters on Monday that he supports having the administration hand over the transcript. Johnson, Graham and Romney are all on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

 

Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyGOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ On The Money: Wall fight raises odds of ‘continuous’ stopgap measures | Warren under pressure over how to pay for ‘Medicare for All’ | Mnuchin surprises Trump by saying US scrapped Chinese farm tours The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by National Association of Manufacturers – Trump defends Ukraine motives while attacking Biden MORE (R-Ala.), however, appeared hesitant, questioning the potential ramifications for other conversations. 

“What about all the other conversations that the presidents of the United States have with foreign leaders and so forth? A lot of that is not for public consumption, I would imagine,” Shelby said.