search
Sections List
American Journal News

Senate Republican in charge of the Trump-Russia probe is ruthlessly obstructing his own investigation

Three months after launching an investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is refusing to do his job. If you watched the Senate Intelligence Committee hearings in March on Russian interference in the presidential election, you would have seen what appeared to be reassuring […]

By Leah McElrath - April 24, 2017
Share
Richard Burr

If you watched the Senate Intelligence Committee hearings in March on Russian interference in the presidential election, you would have seen what appeared to be reassuring unity of purpose between Burr and the committee’s ranking member, Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia.

Unfortunately, recent revelations show such unity to be an illusion and reinforce the need for a non-partisan independent investigatory body to probe the issue of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. And a new poll shows that 73 percent of voters do not trust congressional Republicans and want an independent investigation.

In late March, Burr assured the public, “We have devoted seven professional staff positions to this investigation. These are staffers who already had the clearance.” However, as the Daily Beast reports, multiple sources say the investigation has no full-time staff, and the part-time staffers do not have investigative or prosecutorial experience, nor expertise on Russia.

In addition, the committee has not issued subpoenas to any of the Trump associates believed to have ties to Russia, including former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, or even former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page, who is a suspected Russian spy.

Burr has even refused Democratic committee members’ requests to sign letters seeking potentially crucial evidence from Trump and his team, such as emails and phone records, giving those who possess such evidence ample time to destroy or modify them.

The unwillingness to investigate Trump, from a party that made no secret of its antipathy toward Hillary Clinton and its patently partisan intent to bury her in investigations if she were elected, shows how politicized this investigation is turning out to be.

Burr himself displayed shocking hostility toward Clinton just a week prior to the 2016 election, when he “joked” with a crowd of gun owners about shooting her:

Nothing made me feel any better than [when] I walked into a gun shop, I think, yesterday and there was a copy of Rifleman on the counter. It’s got a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it. I was a little bit shocked at that [because] it didn’t have a bullseye on it. [laughter]

Now, Burr seems shockingly unwilling to investigate the growing evidence that Russia hacked the presidential election to ensure Clinton’s defeat, and that Trump’s campaign may have cooperated to achieve that goal.

For his part, Warner’s patience with his GOP colleague is running out. A committee source confirmed Warner “is not satisfied with the pace of the investigation and he doesn’t think it’s moving fast enough.”

If Burr is too blinded by partisan politics or Clinton hatred to do his job on behalf of the United States, he needs to recuse himself from the investigation. In addition, the American people need to continue to call for an independent and non-partisan investigation into the collusion between Trump and Russia that undermined our electoral process and threatens the future of our entire democracy.


Read More
AJ News
Latest
Republican Jay Ashcroft backs anti-abortion clinics that push lies and disinformation

Republican Jay Ashcroft backs anti-abortion clinics that push lies and disinformation

By Jesse Valentine - May 14, 2024
Republican Sam Brown’s assault on teacher unions could backfire

Republican Sam Brown’s assault on teacher unions could backfire

By Jesse Valentine - May 09, 2024
Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

By Jesse Valentine - May 07, 2024
Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - April 30, 2024
Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2024
Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

By Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal - April 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

By Jesse Valentine - April 15, 2024
GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

By Jesse Valentine - March 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

By Jesse Valentine - March 08, 2024
Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

By Jesse Valentine - March 07, 2024
Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

By Jesse Valentine - March 04, 2024
Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2024
Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

By Jesse Valentine - February 09, 2024
Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

By Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 31, 2024
UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

By Ashley Murray, States Newsroom - January 24, 2024
Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

By Jesse Valentine - January 17, 2024
A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

By Bonnie Fuller - January 10, 2024
Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

By Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters - January 08, 2024
How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

By Jesse Valentine - January 05, 2024
NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

By Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 04, 2024
Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

By Jesse Valentine - December 22, 2023
Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

By - December 15, 2023
Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

By Jesse Valentine - December 08, 2023
Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

By Jesse Valentine - December 07, 2023
Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

By Anna Liz Nichols, Michigan Advance - December 06, 2023
105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

By Jesse Valentine - December 05, 2023
For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - December 04, 2023
Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - November 30, 2023
Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

By Jesse Valentine - November 06, 2023
Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

By Jesse Valentine - November 03, 2023
Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

By Adam Ganucheau, Mississippi Today - October 24, 2023
Veto overrides push Kansas anti-abortion bills into law, while Louisiana seeks to protect IVF

Veto overrides push Kansas anti-abortion bills into law, while Louisiana seeks to protect IVF

By Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Idaho Capital Sun - May 10, 2024
Ted Cruz’s wildfire relief reversal sparks accusations of hypocrisy

Ted Cruz’s wildfire relief reversal sparks accusations of hypocrisy

By Jesse Valentine - May 10, 2024
Missouri Planned Parenthood clinics remain ‘open to all’ despite new Medicaid restrictions

Missouri Planned Parenthood clinics remain ‘open to all’ despite new Medicaid restrictions

By Anna Spoerre, Missouri Independent - May 09, 2024
SC governor to sign bill banning hormone therapy for transgender youth into law

SC governor to sign bill banning hormone therapy for transgender youth into law

By Skylar Laird, South Carolina Daily Gazette - May 09, 2024