Just in: Senate to investigate Trump and Russia ties

[Generator]

Don't have a link. Katy Tur tweeted. Bipartisan. Pelosi wanted it. This shit is on! Hold on DU'ers.

[Generator]

1. Says hearings subpoenas if necessary!

[KittyWampus]

22. compelling testimony is key.

[TrollBuster9090]

64. The hearings will have absolutely no credibility unless McCain and Graham are on it.

Obviously it has to be chaired by a Republican, because they're in the majority. But if McConnell just stacks it with a bunch of yes-men, it'll be worse than if they didn't have any hearings at all.

No credibility unless McCain is the chair.

[trueblue2007]

68. THAT HUGE SECRET MEETING TODAY, with the DEMS coming out so FURIOUS -

THAT HUGE SECRET MEETING TODAY, with the DEMS coming out so FURIOUS --- MAXINE WATERS said "THE FBI DIRECTOR HAS NO CREDIBILITY" !!!! All the
Dems in that CLOSED MEETING are furious with James Comey. why???
i bet there will soon be leaks as to exactly what went on. whoever leaks will be a PATRIOT.



THE BRITISH "EX SPY" who is now in hiding ..... was David Corn from rolling stones mag. interviewed the spy guy, THE FBI was given the info
from the spy guy LAST SUMMER !!!! And they won't tell anyone about the info. COMEY KNEW ABOUT the info. THE FBI didn't "assess" the info
to see if it was true. Comey sat on it. THIS MORNING..... THE SENATE IS SUPPOSEDLY GONNA INVESTIGATE!!

RACHEL JUST SAID ...... THIS IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT STORY IN THE WORLD. ..... and it is.

[Generator]

69. Rachel Maddow has spoken!

Okay then. I hope she's correct!

[heaven05]

77. well, no matter what

the HOUSE and Senate are in the fuhrers camp, so no matter how much we howl and lament that Comey was in on this rigged election, who is POTUS now....just too fucking late. No Democrat knew of this 'russian connection'? Rough ride coming, buckle up!!!!!!!!!

[Rustyeye77]

2. Demand his taxes.

that's where the answer is.

[yallerdawg]

7. One thing's for sure.

If you want to keep a document secret, give it to the IRS.

[jmowreader]

70. I don't think so

Trump may be hiding his taxes because of the significant amount of tax evasion he commits.

[HopeAgain]

76. My first thought as well

Subpoena directory from IRS...

[BlueCaliDem]

3. And the Republicans' scheme to impeach Putin-puppet, to install Pence, has begun... eom

[Rustyeye77]

8. Who's worse ?

I don't know.

[progressoid]

14. Do you want shit soup or shit sandwich?

[mopinko]

30. i prefer the sandwich. at least i can pick off some of the bread.

[Jacob Boehme]

42. I, sir..will have the 'House and Senate Special'...A chocolate covered dog turd.

[BlueCaliDem]

17. From Repubs' perspective, tRump. Pence is "one of their own". tRump is a loose cannon; someone

they can't control, and extremely dangerous as Commander in Chief. Clearly, since they're probably setting up the plot to impeach tRump, they prefer Pence.

For Dems, Liberals, and Progressives, neither one is good for the country.

[Generator]

57. Agnew and Ford both had less than one term

Food for though Du'ers. If Trump breaks they can all be broken. And the legitimacy of this godforsaken election.

[elmac]

47. I think Pence will be worse

when it comes to gutting all safety nets but we may be safer under him if we don't starve to death or die from lack of health care.

[Rustyeye77]

75. I am beginning to think he would be worse.

nt

[Generator]

81. Donald Trump wants to use nuclear weapons

Pence is saner than that. Anybody that actually uses the excuse Pence will be worse is someone who hasn't paid enough attention to Donald Trump. Pence doesn't cozy up to dictators either. Pence is not going to move his disgusting family into positions of power. Pence isn't going to bring Fucking NAZI Steve Bannon into the west wing. Those are just my top reasons.

[arthritisR_US]

25. If Pence gets installed then the public outcry long and loud

should be for him to release his emails while he was Governor.

[Kittycow]

36. In regard to upthread Pence discussion, Biden said

this morning on The View that Pence "is good people ", he has a solid understanding of the intricacies of foreign policy, and some other reassuring stuff.

I don't agree with Pence at all about anything probably but I rather have him in charge than Shitler.

[True Dough]

37. A little surprised to hear that

Biden is being civil in making that statement about Pence, I suppose. The lesser of two evils between him and Drumpf.

[Kittycow]

40. I got the impression he was trying to calm everyone down.

By "everyone " I mean thinking people . His appearance is well worth looking for if it's on YouTube yet. He did talk about the dangers of trump himself being in charge of foreign policy.

[gratuitous]

38. I can take them out one at a time

And I really don't want to hear any Republican whinging about "the will of the American people." According to the ballots just cast in November, the clear majority of the American people don't want Republicans. It took a herculean effort to gerrymander districts and disenfranchise voters to hand the Republicans so much power. Well, we're going to get cracking on undoing that damage.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

82. The Rs claiming to do the will of the American people has not been backed by the facts.

But that hasn't stopped them from the making the claim, repeatedly and scurrilously.

They are masters of propaganda. Organizations opposed to the RW agenda must unite to put massive resources into seriously studying the issue and putting in place a concerted plan to block and counteract the RW propaganda machine.

[Sunny05]

56. Amen. nt

[0rganism]

4. congressional "investigation" -- best way to exonerate the Trumpers i guess

McConnell and Ryan will ensure that the only results coming out of such investigative committees are exactly the ones they want. pretty sure of that.

[AC_Mem]

48. Give our Democratic congress-people credit

it does appear that they are on top of what is going on and crying foul as much as they can. Unfortunately, we are solidly in the minority now but just remember when the GOP was in the minority. they were able to stop or slow down so much - now the tables are turned and we need to do the same.

the Democratic congress needs our support now more than ever. We need to lend them our energy and our support, write letters, meet at a local level, support PROGRESS and resist the plans to undo all we have worked so hard for.

we owe it to our President, who endured so much in his 8 years and still managed to save our asses despite the outright hatred and disruption of our democracy.

Perhaps he will be given a bit of credit (although never out loud i'm sure) now that the GOP has the RESPONSIBILITY of governing. Always remember - "you break it, you own it" - they own everything and we need to hold them responsible for every foul decision they make that hurts Americans and enriches the 1% and their own pockets.

Power to the PEOPLE, to the MAJORITY, to Democrats in America, who choose love over hate and light over shadow.

Annette
Orlando

[onetexan]

74. well said

[kacekwl]

79. I will give credit when the pussyfooting around stops.

If you know something the people need to know what it is . If not then it's just white noise. Citizens need to be outraged at what has happened here . I'd like to see those who were at the meeting on tv-social media yelling , screeming , what they know.

[TrollBuster9090]

65. Ironically, the investigation into a Russian puppet in the White House probably won't last nearly as

long as BENGHAZI!!!1!!1!!

[Generator]

5. Will follow this wherever it leads it says

I hate false hope but goddamn it! That anger today must be this outcome.

[LisaM]

6. But will anything come of it?

Unless a few people like McCain, Susan Collins, and maybe of all people Lindsay Graham have the cojones to take the "R" away from their name for a couple of years and replace it with an "I", Mitch McConnell will still be in charge, and he seems disinclined to do anything normal.

[Generic Brad]

31. It's the new Fitzmas

We can hope against hope for justice, but it is not coming.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

43. Ooh what a fascinating scenario that would be

Starts my mind reeling

[Generator]

9. Senior members of outgoing and INCOMING Admin

to answer questions.

[Freethinker65]

10. Gonna be interesting how they pin this on Obama

[Rustyeye77]

11. They'll blame ....BENGAZI !!!

or Hillary's server.

[Generator]

12. I googled it it's Richard Burr

not our friend and a day ago he was not going for it it must have been the Dems pushing. It literally just broke as I was on twitter. Also on Frank Thorp V's page on twitter (NBC NEWS)

[Chasstev365]

13. If the Senate finds enough damming evidence on Trump;

I hope Trump turns on McConnell, Comey, and Ryan, telling all that they were in on the whole thing!

[FiveGoodMen]

15. Will it be as honest and as thorough as the 911 investigations?

[Generator]

16. I know I know

But -anything that takes legitimacy away from Trump's "win" is America's win.

[malaise]

28. You win the thread

We can dream

[pangaia]

51. LOL!!!

[Generator]

18. Here's the link

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/burr-says-intel-panel-will-investigate-possible-russia-trump-links-233621

Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said late Friday that his committee would investigate possible contacts between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, reversing himself one day after telling reporters that the issue would be outside of his panel’s ongoing probe into Moscow’s election-disruption efforts.

In a statement issued jointly with the committee’s top Democrat, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, Burr said the committee would use “subpoenas if necessary” to secure testimony from Obama administration officials as well as Trump’s team on Russia’s cyberattacks and on other efforts at election meddling.

[pangaia]

52. Didn't he 'reverse himself,' right after the intel report about trump and the russians?

[Generator]

59. They way I understand it

Yesterday-no investigation-Today Dems and Repugs meet with Comey-anger all around NOW there's a bipartisan investigation, Something happened TODAY Friday January 13th that changed things. More intel today or more stalling from Comey? I guess both.

[Phoenix61]

19. Remember Capone?

He got away with everything. Everything except not paying taxes on the profits from illegal activity. It wasn't the crimes that put him in prison it was the IRS. Wanta bet Trump paid off someone in the IRS and his fear is if his return becomes public all of that will come out.

[malaise]

29. Taxes often gets them

We'll see

[bdamomma]

58. trump already

told the press the American people don't care about his taxes just the press does. what pos he is.

[flamingdem]

20. Nancy!!

flex it

[KittyWampus]

21. what do you think, Generator? Do you think the levy will break?

[Generator]

23. As many ties as there seem to be between Trump

and Russia and Manafort and...on and on.. I would say so. They will never overturn an election. But if there is outright treason about contacts then they might try to force him out. Hold on is all I know. This isn't over.

[KittyWampus]

26. Here's your link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141664801

[Sucha NastyWoman]

45. And don't forget Boris. He seems to ave dropped from the radar lately

wonder what he's been up to?

[coco22]

72. Exactly..

He showed up last week talking about inaugural and looking scared and lying his ass off.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

24. Related to Comey's closed door testimony today that shook Congressional members, I wonder? n/t

[Generator]

27. I think it has to be

Yesterday just yesterday! Burr said no investigation. There has to be a there there for this to be turned around.

[onetexan]

35. very fishy in deed

im dying for someone to leak what the big reveal was.

[pangaia]

53. gotta be. He now knows what's up and it ain't pretty..

[a kennedy]

32. NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN......THEY OWN EVERYTHING.....

HOUSE, SENATE, GOVERNORSHIPS........we're done. It's over for the comman man and women, the little guy and gal, IT'S OVER, we're dead.

[Generator]

33. Maybe but I don't want Putin to own us too

Putin's America is not a thing you want to see-that is Donald Trump's dream-no free speech-no free elections. MOST Republicons are bad too-but not that bad. This man is a danger to the planet in my eyes. He must be brought down. Maybe then someday we'll have a real election again.

[a kennedy]

39. and I know that.......I just feel so sick at what IS happening here in this country.

I go from being furious to bawling in one minute. I need a vacation, a lot of cocktails, and huge quantities of pot.

[herding cats]

34. Sounds like our elected Democrats are raising hell!

That's what I keep seeing in article after article this evening. There pissed, and rightly so!

Give 'em hell Dems!! Make the Republicans fear what you know might get leaked out.

[ecstatic]

41. Good! He really disrespected all of us in his bullshit presser

where he lied and acted like he was above the law with regard to transparency on his taxes. Fuck that clown. Lock him up!

[CanonRay]

44. Too fucking late.

IMHO

[zentrum]

46. Stop buying it!

This is a preemptive strike on the Repugs part to seize the terms of the debate. They'll "investigate" and give him exoneration. It's a way to be able to to do that---to exonerate him.

They are not going to truly investigate Trump even though they'll put up a phony committee name.

They're going to give him cover and provide a way for all the Sunday shows to push the idea that the evidence is "ambiguous" and eventually---they hope---the story will fade.

They are incapable of doing anything honorable or not self-serving. Incapable.

[Generator]

54. Even by having this investigation they are not letting it fade

So I disagree. And frankly, if they say it's ambiguous they are lying. More people will come forward and Trump or his minions will be caught in more lies. Eventually something breaks. The story can't fade if for example he rolls back sanctions against Russia. And this is another fly in the Trump ointment. I don't think some people realize the Trump ties to Russia. The hacking is only one part.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKBN14X1YX

Michael Flynn, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for national security adviser, held five phone calls with Russia's ambassador to Washington on the day the United States retaliated for Moscow's interference in the U.S. presidential election, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The calls occurred between the time the Russian embassy was told about U.S. sanctions and the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he had decided against reprisals, said the sources. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing internal U.S. government deliberations about the issue.

The calls raised fresh questions among some U.S. officials about contacts between Trump's advisers and Russian officials at a time when U.S. intelligence agencies contend that Moscow waged a multifaceted campaign of hacking and other actions to boost Republican Trump's election chances against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

[C Moon]

49. Too much at once: I think the GOP, Trump AND Russia are trying to bury everything before the 20th...

in a last ditch effort to give legitimacy to this fucked up election.
I have no faith in hearings lead by the GOP.

[Nwgirl503]

50. Question: will any of the investigation be public?

Open to FOIA?

[Generator]

55. Too early to say

It did say a public and private report. Public and classified.

[Nwgirl503]

60. Hopefully if it is just a show to shut us all up

The public portions will be enough to get public action started. Although I'm keeping my fingers crossed whatever is uncovered will be enough to provoke some repubs consciouses so that it's not all swept under the rug.

[BainsBane]

61. They need an independent investigation.

[Generator]

63. One damn day at a time

I agree but the pessimism on this thread is too much.This means the Russia ties are not going away. I lived through the Bush years too. I know it's a shit show. But I intend to fight every damn day until Trump is gone. Otherwise slit wrists. My husband said this is a liberal thing too-the idea to just despair over everything and let it all burn. Well I'm not there yet. One day at at time is the only way I've gotten through since November 9th. It's not over yet.

[JudyM]

73. Your husband's right... that's how we got out-gerrymandered.

[Generator]

62. More info from the Hill

http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/314298-senate-intel-committee-to-probe-russian-interference-in-election


he Senate Intelligence Committee announced Friday that it will be launching a bipartisan inquiry into Russian intelligence activities, including looking into whether President-elect Donald Trump's allies were in contact with the Kremlin.

The scope of the probe will include “Counterintelligence concerns related to Russia and the 2016 U.S. election, including any intelligence regarding links between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns," according to a statement.

Committee chair Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said just one day before that no such topic would be included in his committee's investigation.

~

Burr said that both the October statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which said the agencies believed Russians were behind the hack on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and the more recent full declassified report from the Intelligence Community (IC) on Russian interference in the election "raise profound concerns."


The committee plans to hold hearings, interview officials from the Obama and Trump administrations, "including the issuance of subpoenas if necessary to compel testimony," but said most of the investigation will be done behind closed doors.

[YOHABLO]

66. Pelosi is the minority leader of the House. (?)

[Generator]

67. Yeah this is a Senate thing

http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/pelosi-calls-investigation-trumps-ties-russia

Mark Warner is the Dem co chair on this. But my guy Wyden will be on it I know. He's like the real deal and always has been.

[Generator]

71. Spy who's life is under threat worked without pay-and knows our FBI is doing a coverup

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-russia-dossier-file-investigation-hacking-christopher-steele-mi6-a7526901.html

Christopher Steele, the former MI6 agent who investigated Donald Trump’s alleged Kremlin links, was so worried by what he was discovering that at the end he was working without pay, The Independent has learned.

Mr Steele also decided to pass on information to both British and American intelligence officials after concluding that such material should not just be in the hands of political opponents of Mr Trump, who had hired his services, but was a matter of national security for both countries.

However, say security sources, Mr Steele became increasingly frustrated that the FBI was failing to take action on the intelligence from others as well as him. He came to believe there was a cover-up, that a cabal within the Bureau blocked a thorough inquiry into Mr Trump, focusing instead on the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails.


This is the source of the Dem anger today. The FBI was working to get Trump elected. They knew about Trump being compromised months ago. But maybe the fallout from this will uncover traitor Trump's endless Russian ties.

[kacekwl]

78. Blah , blah , blah. Heard this before.

Sick of non-action. Call me when something acctualy happens.

[Generator]

80. Really?

You've heard of Russian influence in our election and Donald Trump going to be president because of it and then an investigation led by members of that candidates own party with the other one week before his inauguration? This has happened like literally every election cycle! This happens ALL the time. Thanks for your contribution.

[kacekwl]

83. Yea , I've heard it.

Been hearing it before and after the election. trump did this , Russia did that , Comey did what. I've heard investigations on all are going to happen , when and by who ? All involved know Russia hack the election to support trimp and degrade Hillary. They know trump is beholden to Russia and God knows who else they know trump committed treason , collusion , etc Who will do anything about it ? Who will leak the info that finally sinks this clown ? Investigations mean nothing if nothing is investigated. Thanks for your contribution.