GOP Blocks Probes Into Trump-Russia Ties

[PunkinPi]

Source: The Daily Beast

Suspicion is mounting about Donald Trump’s ties to Russian officials and business interests, as well as possible links between his campaign and the Russian hacking of U.S. political organizations. But GOP leaders have refused to support efforts by Democrats to investigate any possible Trump-Russia connections, which have been raised in news reports and close-door intelligence briefings. And without their support, Democrats, as the minority in both chambers of Congress, cannot issue subpoenas to potential witnesses and have less leverage to probe Trump.

Privately, Republican congressional staff told The Daily Beast that Trump and his aides’ connections to Russian officials and businesses interests haven’t gone unnoticed and are concerning. And GOP lawmakers have reviewed Democrats’ written requests to the FBI that it investigate Trump before they were made public.

...

In a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee this week, Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch pressed the director on whether the FBI would investigate an American citizen who met with senior Russian government officials for a possible Logan Act, which bars private individuals from conducting foreign policy on behalf of the United States. Deutch didn’t initially mention Page, but Democrats want to know if he made promises to lift U.S. sanctions on Russia in a future Trump administration when Page was in Moscow last summer.

...
Remarks like that came tantalizingly close to at least suggesting that the FBI might be looking into Trump. But it also prompted Democrats to accuse the law enforcement agency of a double-standard when it comes to Trump versus Clinton.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/30/gop-blocks-probes-into-trump-russia-ties.html

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/30/gop-blocks-probes-into-trump-russia-ties.html

---

More GOP obstructionism and party over country mentality, but you know emails or something...

[RKP5637]

1. More evidence that the GOP goal is to take down America. The GOP does not give a damn about

the future of the US.

[groundloop]

19. I don't believe that's their goal.... their goal is to stay in power no matter what

If they happen to totally fuck up the country in the process, oh well.

[RKP5637]

21. Yep, definitely that too!!! n/t

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. Yes, you got it. They value power more than true patriotism. They are big on showy patriotism. . nt

[lastlib]

32. Patriotism is a tool for them.

It's useful to suppress the populace from thinking critically about the box the plutocrats are building to keep us in. If we think critically about the box, we want out, and that cuts into profits.

[Hugin]

2. Oh, my... Remember this in the voting booth, Folks.

The GOP chooses Putin over Americans, because Obama.

Write it down to remind you to vote in every election from now on... Including the Midterms of 2018.

[Democat]

3. Democratic Senators and Congresspeople should have press conferences

Call out the GOP on their double standards and their support for Russia over America.

[Cracklin Charlie]

4. Certainly everyone running for re-election.

[central scrutinizer]

39. Yes! Tie that orange albatross around their necks.

Make them explain their support for the cheeto bandito.

[Odin2005]

5. Treason.

[Dale Neiburg]

6. Just a Logan Act violation? They're not worried about anything else?

What about the potential for espionage? (DJT is presumably getting classified intel briefings.)

[lastlib]

34. The Logan Act violation is just a starting point.....

more will need to be done.

Getting rid of the obstructionist-GOP Congress is the next big step.

[Martin Eden]

7. Repukes launch endless witch hunts against Hillary Clinton ...

... but suppress investigation of ties and conflict of interest between their presidential nominee and our Russian adversaries.

[blm]

8. GOP are TRAITORS. They choose to protect Putin and Trump over the citizenry.

.

[Nitram]

9. So the GOP really is worrried there's a there there.

Spineless traitors, one and all.

[world wide wally]

10. GOP leaders (McConnell and Ryan) have a deal with Trump.

They help him get into office and he will be their Presidential puppet, doing every thing he is told to do.
In return, they turn a blind eye and Trump can do anything he wants with Putin and the Russians.

$$$$$$ As Trump would say. "Follow the Money"

[Stonepounder]

24. And they are dumb enough that the think Trump will keep his word?

Like he does with his wedding caterer? Like he did with the guy he bought pianos from? Like he did with Trump U? We are SO fucked.

[world wide wally]

37. He couldn't care less what they ask him to do as long as he can make more money with whoever (Russia)

He has no principles.

[mgardener]

27. They will never be able to control him

They have not been able to up to this point.
I think they are AFAID of him.
If he wins and they opposed him, they are toast. If he loses they can roast him.
Trump is a thug. He and the people around him act like thugs.

[Mamajami]

11. But let's spend millions more going after Hillary for 30,000 e-mail that mean little or

nothing.

This is even more reason to vote the GOP out. I hope that this is put into an ad and run on behalf of all the House and Senate Dems running.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

16. They should blow some more money on Benghazi investigations while they are at it.

People that pay taxes are suckers, afterall, and they are just being smart using our tax money for their political witch hunts.

[Duppers]

12. I don't understand how Congress has jurisdiction over the FBI

The FBI operates under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Justice, which is part of the federal executive branch who's headed by the U.S. Attorney General who is chosen by the President.

So, how can Congress stop an investigation? I'm just puzzled.


Pi !

[PunkinPi]

14. I don't know how this Congress

gets away with anything it's done since the GOP took the majority, boggles the mind.

back at ya Duppers, hope you and yours are well!

[Hugin]

17. This is about a separate Congressional investigation, Duppers.

Which is hypocritical of the GOP because they've spent millions investigating a witch hunt on emails and Benghazi. But, not a dime against Rootin' tootn' Pooty-Putin.


An FBI/DOJ investigation is a different matter.

[Grins]

23. Not the same...

The D's are asking for a (Benghazi-like) Congressional hearing where they can subpoena and compel testimony. That's far different from a formal investigation by the DoJ. The FBI (nor the CIA, NSA, DIA) does not need Congressional approval to investigate. I only hope they are.

[Duppers]

25. They should be throwing the book at him since

Investigative reporters have given them enough info to certainly warrant it.

[lastlib]

35. DOJ oversight, for one thing....

Purse strings for #2.

I don't like it any more than you do, of course, but it's the reality, and the GOPee takes full advantage of it.

[joshdawg]

13. Apparently, instead of IOKIYAR,

it should be IOKIYT......It's OK If You're Trump.
It looks like he can get away with any kind of corruption possible. What a sleazebag................like most republican congressvermin.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

15. The lengths they will go to in order to protect party members is disturbing. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

18. Republicans always turn a blind eye when the light shines on Republican corruption and malfeasence,

then project their crimes onto Democrats who are really trying to do the people's work. Why the American people don't get this and vote the Organized Crime Party out of office, I really can't don't understand.

[George II]

20. I read through that article and unless I missed it....

...I didn't see anything about the republicans "blocking" the FBI from investigating Trump/Russia.

The FBI can and does conduct investigations independent of Congressional requests.

[Wounded Bear]

31. They are blocking Congressional hearings not the FBI..nt

[Rocknrule]

22. When asked about his position on Putin,

Trump said "reverse cowgirl"

[cstanleytech]

28. Gee, Republicans refusing to do their job? Is anyone really surprised?

[tclambert]

29. Russia-ghazi or Putin-ghazi?

I know it doesn't really matter. A Republican congress cannot consider investigating something real about one of their own. They have to stick to re-investigating the nothings they've investigated a hundred times before about the Clintons. But it's NOT about politics! No, sirree, no way, you betcha, how dare you imply ulterior motives!

We need those down-ticket wins. I wish Hillary would start running against the whole Republican Party, so we can get Congress back.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

33. Please don't even think of "ghazi' appellations. That revives Republican smears. Use "gate". . nt

[tclambert]

38. Good idea. Remembrances of Nixons past.

[Rocknrule]

30. Oh that's nothing, didn't you hear Clinton had overdue library books when she was 11?

Now THAT's a real scandal!

[lastlib]

36. Investigate it!!! Right effin' NOW!!

[barbtries]

40. Party over any and every thing

I think they would literally let the world go up in smoke before tgey woukd do the right thing and actually govern in a fair and constitutional manner.

I hate republicans.