Translators and interpreters are growing concerned as U.S. lawmakers are calling on interpreter Marina Gross to disclose details of a confidential conversation between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, USA Today reported.
Ordering an interpreter to reveal details would be unprecedented and dangerous, according to experts, USA Today reported.
"It has never happened in American history, and if it hasn't happened in over 200 years, there must be a good reason for it," said Harry Obst, who has been an interpreter for seven presidents.
Interpreters and translators have a code of ethics that says any privileged details that are entrusted to them must remain confidential, said Stephanie van Reigersberg, who was a State Department interpreter for 32 years before her 2005 retirement, the report said.
"What happens in a meeting is not up to you to divulge," van Reigersberg said.
"People need to be able to trust that what we hear as an interpreter is confidential. Otherwise, we lose the credibility to do our job," said Judy Jenner, a spokeswoman for the American Translators Association, USA Today reported.
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., said the situation requires Gross to reveal details of the conversation.
"It may be unprecedented to subpoena a translator to reveal details of a private meeting between the president and another world leader, but Trump's actions are unprecedented in a way that harms our national security," said Pascrell, USA Today reported.
Democrats are also calling on the Trump administration to provide information on any promises Trump might have made to Putin during their meeting.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., told reporters he does not want to subpoena Gross, but he does support Democrats in their push to see any of Gross' notes about the meeting.
Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday blocked a move to subpoena the translator from the Helsinki summit.
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