The Senate Intelligence Committee has requested that a handful of former Trump campaign advisers turn over records of any communications with Russian government and business officials, the New York Times reported Friday.
Anonymous sources with knowledge of the Senate probe told the Times that longtime ally Roger Stone, former foreign policy adviser Carter Page, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn all received letters from the committee, which is investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election to benefit Donald Trump.
Representatives for Manafort and Flynn did not immediately respond to TPM’s requests for comment.
Stone and Page, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, told the Times that they would comply with the request. Stone said he was “eager, indeed anxious” to testify before the committee in an open hearing, while Page said he would “help” but countered that the government already had collected his communications through a “completely unjustified FISA warrant.”
The newspaper previously reported that the Justice Department obtained a warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to wiretap Page’s communications after his departure from the Trump campaign last year, out of concern that he was working on Russia’s behalf.
In a joint statement, committee chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and vice chairman Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) urged Page to “live up to his publicly-expressed cooperation with our effort.”
My statement with Chairman @SenatorBurr on Carter Page's cooperation with the SSCI investigation pic.twitter.com/PNNaIfRgec
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) May 5, 2017
Both have previously said they were willing to issue subpoenas if their requests were not met.
Flynn previously offered to testify before federal and congressional investigators about his ties to Russia on the condition that he is granted immunity. It doesn’t appear anyone has taken him up on that offer.
According to the Times, the Senate committee requested records of all meetings, emails, text messages and phone calls these individuals had with Russian officials or businessmen from June 16, 2015 to Jan. 20, 2017. It also asked for information about financial or real estate holdings the former Trump advisers may have that are linked to Russia.
The Senate and House Intelligence Committees are both investigating the Trump campaign’s potential ties to Russia, as is the FBI.
What about Kushner??
Are they afraid of a Constitutional crisis?
I’m betting they would get a quicker response if the request was in Russian…
What about the records from Jarvanka? Seems like those would be, let’s call it “illuminating” and may have some impact on security clearance. Or lack thereof.
Stone said he was “eager, indeed anxious” to testify before the
committee in an open hearing, while Page said he would “help” but
countered that the government already had collected his communications
through a “completely unjustified FISA warrant.”
Anytime ANYBODY says they are “eager” to testify in open court, that means they are guilty. guilty, guilty.