USA Today (Op-Ed): Trump is a known liar. Cover-ups are exactly what he does

Americans deserve an accountable government with leaders willing to put their differences aside for the greater good. But President Donald Trump’s pre-planned temper tantrum yesterday is just the latest example of an unsuccessful governing style that leads to more frustration and cynicism from the American people.

Trump is now holding hostage millions of American jobs and much needed investments into our country’s crumbling roads and bridges, unless Congress stops its investigations into his administration’s abuse of power, obstruction of justice and corruption. This demand is disgraceful. The legislative process cannot be held hostage to duck accountability in a democracy.

After storming out of a meeting with members of Congress on Wednesday, President Trump held a press conference where he began with the phrase “I don’t do cover-ups.” The truth is Trump’s campaign and presidency have been filled with lies and cover-ups. Two of the most egregious examples are:

► Just days before the election in 2016, it was Trump who instructed his fixer Michael Cohen to funnel $130,000 in hush money to adult film star actress Stormy Daniels — money he reimbursed after taking office — in violation of campaign finance laws.

► When the news media first reported that senior members of the Trump’s team — including Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner — secretly met with Russian operatives promising dirt on Hillary Clinton in Trump Tower during the campaign, also in violation of campaign finance laws, Trump reportedly dictated the misleading statement by Trump Jr. claiming the meeting was about adoption policy.

The president’s strained relationship with the truth is well-documented. The Washington Post has identified more than 10,000 false or misleading statements that Trump made since assuming office.

The lies did not begin with his swearing in. For years, Trump built a personal brand of being a successful businessman, but he has since refused to release his taxes or any financial information during his campaign and presidency. The financial information the public has seen shows that he and his business have lost millions of dollars each year due to bad deals and investments.

The true brand of Donald Trump is not successful businessman or elected official, but instead a man who lies and tries to cover up anything that could be potentially damaging to him.

In light of the evidence, Trump’s demands that Congress stop its investigations is indefensible, and his claim that government cannot function while the investigations continue simply does not hold water.

Enough is enough. The American people can see through Trump’s game-show style governing that makes high school student government look effective and efficient. The president’s latest attempts to bully, intimidate and obstruct justice are a violation of the oath of office he swore on the steps of the Capitol. There are real opportunities right now for the White House to work with Congress to improve our nation’s infrastructure, increase election security and lower prescription drug prices, but it will require the president to work with all members of Congress on issues important to the American people. It is long past time for Trump put the country’s interests before his own.

Karen Hobert Flynn is president of Common Cause. You can follow her on Twitter: @KHobertFlynn.