Congress moves ahead with Russian election-hacking probes

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

Source: Yahoo News

Photo illustration: Yahoo News, photos: AP [2], Getty Images)
The House and Senate Intelligence Committees are moving forward with separate inquiries into Russian hacking of the 2016 election, including exploring allegations of communications between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign.
The Senate Intelligence Committee voted in closed session lateTuesdayto approve a formal investigative plan for the panels previously announced inquiry, setting a tentative deadline of three months to complete the probe.
On Wednesday, the House Intelligence Committee publicly announced for the first time that it will conduct its own investigation into the intelligence communitys conclusion about Russian meddling in the election. As part of its probe, the panel said, it will examine U.S. counterintelligence concerns about the election, including any intelligence regarding links between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns.
The scope of the two inquiries would appear to specifically includelooking at the validity of a widely circulated 35-page dossier alleging numerous unverified contacts between Trump campaign figures and Russian officials.The report,compiled by a former British spy hired by a political opposition research firm working for anti-Trump donors, alsocontained sensational claims, denounced as fake news by Trump, of compromising personal information that the Kremlin had allegedly gathered about him during a 2013 trip to Moscow.
Were not taking that off the table, said Jack Langer, a spokesman for California GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, when asked if the committees probe would include investigating the claims in the dossier.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/congress-moves-ahead-with-russian-election-hacking-probes-233614475.html

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[cstanleytech]

1. Why do I suspect that if evidence should be uncovered to verify that Trump colluded with Russia

or that they have blackmailed him or have blackmail on him that the GOP will work overtime to bury and or discredit it like how they took Dan Rather out?

[C Moon]

2. feel the same

[NanceGreggs]

3. No, they'll throw him under the bus.

Once the useful idiot is too much of a liability, they'll threaten him with impeachment if he doesn't step down.

They will then have the prez they wanted all along: Pence. They will distance themselves from Trump's pro-Russia stance - (which they are currently ignoring), thereby winning back the trust of their commie-hating base. They will feign outrage and utter shock that Trump was involved in anything nefarious - say he seemed like such a nice guy.

[cstanleytech]

4. No, even if there a sudden discovery proving he colluded illegally

with Russia on disseminating the information about her emails they would probably help him to cover it up as long as he signs what they order him to sign and when they order him to sign it as it would give them leverage on getting what they want signed.

[NanceGreggs]

12. There is no guarantee ...

... that he will sign what they want him to sign - and they know that.

Dumping Trump, on the other hand, puts Pence in the WH - a man who can be counted on to sign what he's told to sign.

People keep ignoring the fact that the Republicans can put their boy Pence into the presidency - legally, and without opposition - at the moment of their choosing. They have ZERO motive to entrust the future of their party to a loose cannon like Trump - while they have every motive to move their REAL choice into WH.

Trump will be thrown under the GOP bus the minute he ceases to be their useful idiot. And Trump is too much of an idiot to understand that.

[Blue_Roses]

15. I think you are spot on, Nance!

Well said! Explains why there is no resistance from Ryan and the turtleman.

[cstanleytech]

19. I'm not ignoring it at all and have said multiple times that Pence is their plan B

should they decide to invoke it and remove Trump.

[NanceGreggs]

21. Pence is actually Plan A.

Remember he was the GOP's pick for VP, not Trump's. They knew what they were doing when they put Pence in that position.

[cstanleytech]

22. Regardless they wont remove Trump unless he refuses to sign what they order him to sign when

they order him to sign it otherwise they will let him remain to take the blame for their decisions.

[NanceGreggs]

24. They'll keep Trump ...

... until he starts damaging the GOP "brand".

I don't think he's taking any orders as to what to sign. Thus far, he's doing the things he told his supporters he would do: the border fence, "punishing" countries with tariffs on their goods, keeping the Muslim terrorists out by "vetting" immigrants, etc.

Removing him now would anger those voters who are elated at seeing those campaign promises being kept.

But eventually, he's going to start doing things that will damage the Republican brand enough to lose voters - that's when the GOP will pull the trigger.

Of course, if and when investigations conclude that Trump was/is colluding with the Russians, the GOP will have to act immediately. Their base is virulently anti-commie, and will WANT him gone. Enter President Pence - who will immediately take an anti-Russia stance once in office.

[murielm99]

6. I think they may whitewash everything.

We will be stuck with Trump.

[NanceGreggs]

11. Some things can't be "whitewashed"...

... and collusion with the Russians is one of them - especially given the commie-hating base of the Republican Party.

Never forget that the GOP never wanted Trump in the first place. They wanted Pence - and throwing Trump under the bus is the most expedient way of putting Pence in the Oval Office. No fuss, no muss - dump Trump and the GOP's most fervent wish is accomplished.

Why risk a loose cannon like Trump when you can have a controllable Pence in the WH - more than willing to protect the GOP "brand" from being associated with a pResident whose mental stability is liable to tarnish it sufficiently to destroy them in the 2018 midterms?

The GOP is far more anxious to Dump Trump than we are - because they already have their No. 1 choice poised to take his place.

[murielm99]

13. If this is optimism, then

you are much more optimistic than I.

So much has gone wrong in such a short time. I fear that another two months of this will destabilize our country in ways that will take a long time to fix. Some things may be beyond fixing.

I want Trump out of there now. Pence is a nightmare, but he will not start a nuclear war because someone sent him a bad tweet or disobeyed him.

I don't care when Pence comes to the Presidency. If it is tomorrow, or next year, we must never let them forget what they have done to the U.S. and the world. We must get people to vote for Democrats at all levels. I know that I sound like a broken record on this, but I have spent a lifetime just trying to get people to the polls. My dad did the same thing, until he became too ill, God rest him.

[NanceGreggs]

16. It's not optimism ...

... it's common sense.

The Republicans are one Trump away from putting their dream boy, Pence, into the Oval Office.

It is not an opportunity they are likely to overlook.

[politicat]

17. Also, sooner is better than later.

They are thinking about 2018 and 2020. Every day they keep Il Douche is one more that he taints their brand. He's got the Randroids and the goldbugs wound up already -- spending. They will want as long as possible to rehab and distance.

They know that 2018 is an uphill battle for us, but Il Douche is eroding their high ground. Resistance is becoming fashionable.

[UCmeNdc]

5. Without a doubt, Trump was put into office by Putin. A truly extraordinary spy operation.

There are moles in the FBI and CIA holding up a proper investigation. Moles being run by Putin's intelligence agents.

[Skittles]

7. UGH

TRUMP VOTERS, THOSE ARE THE TWO CREEPY ASSHOLES YOU VOTED IN

[Ford_Prefect]

8. Who says Pence didn't know?

Once he was on board with the campaign how could he not?

[Raine1967]

14. President Ryan. EOM

[bucolic_frolic]

9. They all knew

Recall the private meetings between Ryan and Trump, McConnell and
Trump, but not a mumble of endorsement

America was sold to a foreign power for political gain and spoils

[Chakaconcarne]

10. Hence the homeland security investigation

...into voter fraud... what might they do? Maybe cover some tracks? Is that the reason for the push despite no evidence?

[0rganism]

23. maybe they find those millions of illegal votes Trump was talking about?

in the end, they'll say what he wants them to say

[GliderGuider]

18. Ask them to take another look at the Seth Rich case as well.

Last July, remember? I wonder whose plans he posed a threat to?