First on CNN: Rice declines Senate request to testify on Russian hacking
Source: CNN
By Jim Sciutto and Manu Raju, CNN
Updated 5:31 PM ET, Wed May 3, 2017
Washington (CNN)Susan Rice, President Barack Obama's former national security adviser, on Wednesday declined Sen. Lindsey Graham's request to participate in a judiciary subcommittee hearing next week on Russian interference in the US election, CNN has learned.
A letter obtained exclusively by CNN from Rice's lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, outlines the grounds for her decision not to appear. It was addressed to Graham, the Republican chairman of the judiciary subcommittee on crime and terrorism, which is holding the hearing, and senior Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.
"Senator Whitehouse has informed us by letter that he did not agree to Chairman Graham's invitation to Ambassador Rice, a significant departure from the bipartisan invitations extended to other witnesses," Ruemmler wrote. "Under these circumstances, Ambassador Rice respectfully declines Senator Graham's invitation to testify."
A source familiar with Rice's discussions told CNN that when Graham invited her, Rice believed it was a bipartisan overture and was prepared to accept. However, Whitehouse indicated to her that the invitation was made without his agreement, as he believed her presence was not relevant to the topic of the hearing, according to the source.
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/03/politics/susan-rice-refuses-graham-russia-hearing/index.html?sr=twCNN050317breaking-news0904PMVODtopPhoto&linkId=37166733
tazkcmo
(7,286 posts)The GOpee is obstructing and foot dragging the Russian investigation preferring to chase windmills and Bigfoot.
NewRedDawn
(790 posts)this hypocritical closeted Son of a bitch & destroy him with his confederate bible thumper constituents.
This fucker like McCain tries to come off as a moderate & he is nothing but a party first toady.
riversedge
(69,708 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)This is just a Rethug method to cover Trump by smearing Ms.Rice. Here it comes...........
Ha nothing to do with the real truth.
OnDoutside
(19,906 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)namely African-American Females of previous Authority. And most surely one that is much smarter than he.
OnDoutside
(19,906 posts)a bad novel.
red dog 1
(27,647 posts)riversedge
(69,708 posts)........Republicans have raised concerns that Rice may have acted improperly while she was national security adviser by seeking to learn the identities of Trump officials discussing matters with foreign officials related to the Trump transition.
Those officials were caught up in US intelligence surveillance of the foreign officials and had their identities unmasked after at first being referred to anonymously in the intelligence records.
President Donald Trump at one point alleged Rice broke the law by requesting the unmasking of US individuals' identities. Trump had claimed the matter was a "massive story."
But Republican and Democratic lawmakers and aides have so far found no evidence that Obama administration officials did anything unusual or illegal, multiple sources in both parties have told CNN.
Despite declining the appearance, Rice's lawyer assured Graham and Whitehouse in the letter that she was "prepared to assist Congressional inquiries into Russian election interference because of the important national interests at stake, provided they are conducted in a bipartisan manner, and, as appropriate, in classified session."
bluestarone
(16,720 posts)time on benghazi?? the asshole
BumRushDaShow
(127,270 posts)Good decision!
And if Graham insists on subpoena, then time for Ds to demand the same for some of the Drumpf folks.
Get Off Of My Cloud
(22 posts)Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that former national security adviser Susan Rice should reconsider her decision not to testify before a Senate panel.
"I think she ought to consider it," Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on MSNBC's "MTP Daily," explaining that Rice has already defended herself in the press.
"She has gone public. I saw her on Fareeds show Sunday. I saw her today," Feinstein said.
President Trump accused Rice last month of improperly requesting the identities of members of his transition team that were incidentally swept up in intelligence collections.
I understood from Olbermann and Vox that Comey and Rice were to be the final nails in Trump's coffin
Both disappointing
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/331834-feinstein-rice-should-reconsider-testifying-to-senate-panel
progressoid
(49,824 posts)machoneman
(3,951 posts)A "crime and terrorism" committee,eh? And what does this have to do with Rice?
Answer: nothing but the chance for Graham and his fellow republiscums to beat up on her, Obama. Clinton, et al and use the video for a series of cash-raising campaign ads.
Once smart cookie that Rice. And Graham made, for him, a rare mistake by not getting consensus first. Dumb indeed and now he's blown his chance!