How Al Franken Unleashed A Special Counsel On Donald Trump

[DonViejo]

By ALLEGRA KIRKLAND Published MAY 19, 2017 6:00 AM


It started with a question. But, as it turned out, not even the right question.

Around the eight-hour mark of the January confirmation hearing of then-Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) drew attention to a just-published CNN blockbuster about an explosive dossier peddling outlandish allegations that the Russians had highly incriminating information about Donald Trump.

The dossier also contained less sensational but still-important allegations that Trump campaign associates had repeated contact with Russian intermediaries. Franken pounced. Sort of.

“If there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?” Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) asked Sessions, still smiling and accommodating after a long day of grilling.

“I’m not aware of any of those activities,” an unperturbed Sessions said. And then, Sessions—a former federal prosecutor—went well beyond what Franken had asked. “I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians, and I’m unable to comment on that,” Sessions replied.

The room did not buzz. Reporters did not scramble. But that seemingly innocuous response kicked off a chain of events that ultimately led to the appointment of a special counsel to oversee the sprawling federal investigation into Russia’s interference in the election and possible collusion by Trump campaign associates.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/franken-question-sessions-russia-prompted-special-counsel

[underpants]

1. Always ahead of his time

[flamingdem]

2. He's good enough, and he's smart enough

what was that snl line?

[underpants]

3. and gosh darnit people like him

[flamingdem]

4. Oh that picture

what a great character.

Too bad he has to be so sober would love to be a fly on the wall of his uncensored thoughts

[Rhiannon12866]

13. He IS good enough and smart enough!

More than enough of both! He is one kick ass senator!

[phylny]

7. and doggone it, people like me! nt

[Cooley Hurd]

14. Hahaha!!! That was @ Houdini's grave, Halloween 1976, IIRC

I rememeber watching it live - it was the 50th anniversary of Houdini's death, so they had Al (the one-man mobile uplink) go to Houdini's grave (at night) to see if he was going to "escape from death".

[NurseJackie]

5. AL FRANKEN totally ROCKS!! He's one of us: A TRUE DEMOCRAT! He makes me PROUD...

... to be a DEMOCRAT!

[brer cat]

6. Al Franken has been awesome in these hearings.

We are blessed to have him working for us.

[L. Coyote]

8. Indeed. While the OP is historically true, I do not interpret this history that way.

There were plenty of people who knew all about the Steele Dossier and the FBI had been investigating it since July. FISA warrants had been issued, and no doubt Franken was in on all the public details plus knowledge only shared with Senators.

What is new in this hearing is Sessions commited perjury. And nothing has been done about that yet.

Link to tweet

[SonofDonald]

9. Read his books

President Franken?, he has my vote, and my ear as always.

[lunasun]

11. Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot and other observations

[Stuart G]

10. I have read this one, and it is a great article.,..k and r...

Thanks for posting this...

[lark]

12. Much love to Al Franken!

He's definitely one of the good guys and I'm so glad we have such a sharp representative. Heard he went off on Rosenstein yesterday, would love to hear more about that.