Conservative group hits White House with billboard ads: ‘What is Trump hiding?’

Conservative organization Republicans for the Rule of Law released a new digital billboard campaign Wednesday blasting President Trump and several GOP lawmakers and officials over the ongoing impeachment inquiry. 

The ads show an image of President Trump behind Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security adviser John Bolton, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and President Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani with tape over all of their mouths, according to copies of the billboards shared with The Hill. 

“What Is Trump Hiding?” the ads ask. They will be placed in the congressional districts of House Republicans, including Reps. Greg Walden (Ore.), Mac Thornberry (Texas), Fred Upton (Mich.) Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) John Katko (N.Y.), Martha Roby (Ala.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), Michael McCaul (Texas), Mo Brooks (Ala.) and Paul Mitchell (Mich.) and Francis Rooney (Fla.) according to copies of the advertisements. 

{mosads} “The president doesn’t own the government and he’s not above the law,” Republicans for the Rule of Law spokesman Chris Truax said in a statement to The Hill. “He’s merely a caretaker acting on our behalf and when Congress demands an accounting, it’s the President’s duty to comply.”

Truax attacked the White House for preventing administration officials from testifying before lawmakers in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. The White House has blocked the testimonies of a dozen Trump officials. 

“President Trump has been given every opportunity to answer the charges against him,” Truax said. “He demands friendly witnesses, yet refuses to allow his most loyal supporters to testify. He complains the proceedings are unfair, yet refuses to allow his lawyers to participate in the hearings.”

“If President Trump really could prove he is innocent of the impeachment charges against him, he would have made some effort to do so by now,” he continued. “If the President really does think the facts will exonerate him, why won’t he let those facts come out?”

Last month, the organization launched an ad campaign on Fox News citing several witnesses who have appeared before lawmakers, including ambassadors Gordon Sondland and William Taylor. It levels House Democrats’ key allegation against Trump, accusing him of holding up millions in military aid while asking Ukraine for investigations into his political foes, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

Trump and his GOP allies in Congress have repeatedly denied the allegations. Thursday, lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee went head to head for a marathon markup stretching over more than 11 hours over the two articles of impeachment House Democrats leveled against the president this week.