Top Democrats accuse GOP of ignoring Russia threat

[babylonsister]

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/09/democrats-accuse-republicans-ignoring-russia-329597?lo=ap_f1

Top Democrats accuse GOP of ignoring Russia threat
By KYLE CHENEY
01/09/2018 02:30 PM EST


Six senior House Democrats on Tuesday said Republicans "put President Trump ahead of our national interests" by failing to address the threat they said Russia poses to future U.S. elections and national security.

"Rather than pursue the truth on behalf of the American people, House Republicans have waged an aggressive campaign to shut down congressional and criminal investigations into Russia’s attack," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan.

The Democrats urged Ryan to convene a meeting of leaders from both parties to begin confronting the prospect of future Russian election interference. They listed a number of issues they said Congress hasn't fully investigated, from discerning security vulnerabilities in the nation's electrical grids and infrastructure to settling questions about whether associates of President Donald Trump aided Russia's 2016 effort to influence the election.

Signing the letter were Rep. Elijah Cummings, the ranking member of the Oversight Committee; Rep. Maxine Waters, the ranking member of the Financial Services Committee; Rep. Elliot Engel, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee; Rep. Bob Brady, the ranking member of the administration committee and Rep. Bennie Thompson, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.

It's the start of a more public campaign by Democrats to call out Republicans for what they argue is a lack of emphasis on the threat Russia poses to future U.S. elections. Democrats say the GOP has ignored the issue in part because Trump has equated questions about Russia's influence operation with a challenge to the legitimacy of his election.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) joined colleagues at a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce the letter to Ryan.

Republicans have dismissed complaints that they've ignored the issue, pointing to the year-long investigation by the House intelligence committee — a probe that has been mired in partisan infighting — as well as examinations of cybersecurity threats and other vulnerabilities by various House committees.

But Democrats say it's not enough.

"To date, the House has held only one full committee public hearing on the most significant finding of the ODNI report: that our elections continue to be vulnerable to foreign interference in the future," they wrote. "Instead, they have relegated this issue to a handful of toothless subcommittee hearings, which have been marked by the Trump Administration’s refusal to provide documents requested by Democrats that would help inform our work."

[BigmanPigman]

1. Ryan will not do a damn thing.

He is in cahoots with The Moron and Nunes. I do applaud the efforts of the Dems though. I thought Cummings was not feeling well, I hope he is on the mend.

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. Ryan is a no good fucking prick traitor. I am getting so sick of these fucks

[BigmanPigman]

5. If he doesn't get nailed by Mueller

and leaves in 2018 thinking he is safe from being investigated by Mueller ("the family sticks together, ha ha&quot I will go ballistic. He is a crook and had better end up in a cell next to McConnell, Jared, Ivanka, and the rest of the cabal.

[Eliot Rosewater]

6. Wants your SS and Medicare AFTER using it for himself, Medicaid, etc.

He is your enemy, he is trying to kill you and your family.

it is that simple

[BigmanPigman]

8. I am dying soon and well before he cuts anything off.

Take that RYAN! I want to live long enough to see THEM get something cut off (you know what I mean... in the balls department or perhaps their heads). That is my goal. I want to see my country in safe, sane hands so I can die in peace. I just need the ACA so I don't bankrupt my family and their savings paying for my necessary and expensive medical bills. Maybe I will come back as a ghost and haunt him.

[Eliot Rosewater]

9. So sorry to hear. Yes, we are in a fight for our lives and it doesnt matter who we voted

for, Ryan wants all poor dead, all old dead, all brown dead.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Is the so called Media reporting on this,

no,ju.st some small circulation Rag in DC

[bluestarone]

3. why can't the democratic congress hold major news conference and

WITH ALL OF THEM BE THERE so people will see this!!!!!

[needledriver]

7. Russia is only a threat

If they can see Hillary’s emails, or buy part ownership of a uranium mining company.