Republicans Focus on Protecting Trump at Russia Hearing

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http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/05/republicans-protect-trump-at-house-intelligence-hearing-russia
They kept pressing ex-CIA chief John Brennan to say no evidence of Moscow-campaign collusion exists.

David CornMay 23, 2017 1:55 PM

The Republicans still are not serious about investigating the Trump-Russia scandal. That message came through resoundingly when the House intelligence committee held a public hearing on Tuesday morning with former CIA chief John Brennan. (Actually, this was not officially a committee hearing. Democrats on the committee were informed earlier this would be considered a "task force" hearing because the Republican chairman of the committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, could not appear because he had recused himself from the Russia investigation.)

At the witness table, Brennan told a harrowing tale. As CIA director last summer, he saw what was happening with the hack-and-leak attack on the Democratic National Committee, and he reviewed top-secret intelligence and concluded that Russia was mounting this assault to disrupt the election, hurt Hillary Clinton, and help Donald Trump. He also at the time was aware of intelligence that showed contacts between Trump associates and Russia, and that caused him to conclude a thorough FBI investigation was warranted. He testified, "I saw interaction" that warranted concern.

This was a big deal. In March, then-FBI chief James Comey revealed during testimony to this committee that in July 2016 the bureau launched an investigation of contacts between Trump associates and Russia. Now the CIA head from then was stating that there was clear intelligence that justified that probe. He also revealed that in early August he was so concerned about the Russian operation he spoke to the head of Russia's FSB, the country's intelligence service, and warned him to knock it off. Brennan also revealed that in August and September he briefed a small number of congressional leaders and shared with them top-secret intelligence about Moscow's effort to subvert the election in part to benefit Donald Trump. (This means that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan knew many details about the Russian operation but didn't challenge or correct Trump's continued public assertions that Russia was not necessarily the culprit in the DNC hack.)

Yet once again Republicans did not focus on the main elements of the story. When the Republicans on the committee had the chance to question Brennan, they did not press him for more details on Russia's information warfare against the United States. Instead, they fixated on protecting Trump.

[Demtexan]

1. Yep.

He is the only thing holding up the party.

If he goes they all go.

This year has not gone as planned.

The townhalls are getting nasty and will get worse.

The Democratic members of congress grew a spine.

The republicans are scared.

This whole year is built like a house of cards.

[padfun]

2. ++1

All good points!

[Demtexan]

3. Trump thought he was going to be king.

Not so fast.

It started with airports that night.

Look what happened.

Trump thought could stop people with legal documents from coming in.

Lawyers went to the airports.

The courts stepped in.

All the protests.

None of this was suppose to happen.

Now he was caught dealing with the Russians.

All down hill.

Before it is all over the white house will be empty except for people who work there.