Schiff Blasts GOP For Following Trump’s Lead With Two New ‘Partisan’ Probes

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, meets with reporters to discuss the process for investigating whether or how Russia influenced the presidential election, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. House Intelligence chairman Devin Nunes said earlier that Congress should not begin a McCarthy-style investigation based on news reports that a few Americans with ties to President Donald Trump had contacted Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, meets with reporters to discuss the process for investigating whether or how Russia influenced the presidential elec... Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, meets with reporters to discuss the process for investigating whether or how Russia influenced the presidential election, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. House Intelligence chairman Devin Nunes said earlier that Congress should not begin a McCarthy-style investigation based on news reports that a few Americans with ties to President Donald Trump had contacted Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday blasted two newly announced House GOP probes on issues that date back to the Obama era as “partisan” distractions aimed at drawing attention away from ongoing investigations into Russia’s interference in the 2016 race.

“Acting on the urging of the President who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies’ conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the President’s preferred goal – attacking Clinton and Obama,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said in a statement.

House Republicans on the Oversight and Judiciary committees announced they would be looking into the Justice Department’s handling of the probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, while Schiff’s colleague on the Intelligence Committee, chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA), said his panel would investigate the Obama administration’s approval of a Russian uranium deal alongside the Oversight committee.

The Clinton email scandal was a favorite bogeyman of President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans during the 2016 election. Conservative commentators on Fox News and fresh reports at The Hill have cast renewed scrutiny on the uranium deal, which Trump also brought up on the campaign trail, in recent days.

Schiff noted both of the new House investigations into these issues were launched without Democratic support.

The California lawmaker said the probes offer proof of the GOP House Majority’s “fundamental lack of seriousness” about Russia’s election interference and are a “disservice” to the multiple investigations into that interference.

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Notable Replies

  1. Benghazi is a battered dead horse. They’ve found a couple of less trampled dead horses to beat.

  2. “Acting on the urging of the President who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies’ conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the President’s preferred goal – attacking Clinton and Obama,”

    In the words of Sen. Flake (R-AZ), “We were not made great as a country by indulging in or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorifying in the things that divide us and calling fake things true and true things fake.”

  3. Adam Schiff simply is an outstanding public servant. He’s civil and careful not to overstate his points. He’s given Republicans no excuse not to work with him. At the same time, he’s been smart, precise and tough in pursuing the investigation, and eloquent in explaining the ins and outs of it.

    Meanwhile, Nunes lies to his own colleagues, bullies the media, is confused about established facts, and can’t seem to get the president’s cock out of his mouth.

    California truly is the breadbasket of diversity.

  4. Actually I don’t mind them looking into Hillary’s private email server as long as Dems use it as an opportunity to Trump admin officials using Trump Tower email servers. Hillary won’t run again so maybe this will use up some of the GOP’s ammo that could otherwise be aimed at Dems who are, in office or running for office.

    The Russian Uranium deal is, as I understand it, not even a deal with Russia. It’s with a Canadian company that is partially owned by Russians. I don’t think it’s a good idea for foreign companies to mine US uranium but it’s far from treason. It’s exactly the sort of investigation that could convice Trump’s base to accept any treason on Trump’s part with a “well at least he didn’t sell our Uranium to Russia!” rationalization. If Dems don’t win back the house then this is the sort of horseshit that could keep Trump in the WH for a second term…or even longer.

  5. Avatar for nemo nemo says:

    What does St. Jeff Flake have to say about this?

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