NCs Jones 1st House Republican to back special Trump-Russia investigative commission
U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, from eastern North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District, became the first Republican member of the House of Representatives this week to support a proposed independent citizen commission to look into alleged Russian government interference in the 2016 election and any ties to President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Democrats leading the call for the special commission announced Friday that Jones is a co-sponsor to the bill titled “Protecting Our Democracy Act.” If approved, the legislation would create a bipartisan-appointed commission similar to the one Congress authorized after the September 2001 terror attacks.
Trump has repeatedly said his campaign had no contact with Russian intelligence officials and on Thursday the president called media attention on the issue “a ruse.” It was Trump’s first major media availability since demanding the resignation of his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who had come under fire for reportedly discussing with a Russian ambassador the U.S. lifting sanctions on the country. Flynn was accused of lying to Vice President Mike Pence about the phone conversations.
Congressional Democrats’ efforts to start more probes into Trump’s team and associates related to Russia come as the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is already weeks into investigating how and why alleged Russian hackers operated during the 2016 election. A similar House Intelligence Committee review is underway.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article133329904.html#storylink=cpy
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