Top Interior Dem calls for investigation into Zinke's call to Murkowski

[swag]

Source: The Hill

Robin Eberhardt

The top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee is calling for a probe into whether President Trump's Interior secretary threatened to retaliate against an Alaska senator for opposing the GOP healthcare measure this week.

Both Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R) and Dan Sullivan (R) said they received a call from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Wednesday, informing them that the Trump administration will not support key projects with Alaska after Murkowksi voted against the GOP healthcare bill in the senate a day before.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said in a statement Thursday that he plans to request a formal investigation into whether the Trump administration threatened the Alaska lawmakers, pointing out that he believes Zinke is serving Trump's "political vendetta" over the public interest.

“Running a department of the federal government means you serve the American people as a protector of their rights and freedoms,” Grijalva said. “It doesn’t mean you serve the president as a bag man for his political vendettas." He went on to say that using “political blackmail” is an action that one could expect from the Kremlin, not a government agency.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/344161-key-dem-calls-for-probe-into-whether-trump-administration-threatened-alaska

[barbtries]

1. Thank you Rep Grijalva!

i could not believe when i read this news. if it is not illegal it should be.

[atreides1]

2. Zinke

The "heroic" SEAL, and thief!!!

Now he's trying to graduate to extortion, what a slime!


In my view once you've dishonored the uniform, you're not deserving of any respect, period! Zinke isn't deserving of respect, because he's a thief...and it doesn't matter how much he stole...he will always be a thief!!!

[Sneederbunk]

3. Time for Senator Sullivan to join Murkowski in voting no.

[Honeycombe8]

4. So he's blackmailing senators, now. And punishing states for not doing his bidding. O M G.

Alaska voted for Trump. What say you now, Alaska? Now do you understand what people meant when they told you that he's unfit for the Presidency?

[Txbluedog]

5. See this is where the leader needs to act

Members of his caucus are being threatened and bullied and he needs to protect them and yet McTurtle wont do anything. This is why I believe that he wont survive in his leadership position if Republicans even end up with a reduced majority post 2018. Hopefully Putin will have provided him with a generous pension

[50 Shades Of Blue]

6. GOOD!

[George II]

7. "a bag man for his political vendettas"!!!

[longship]

8. Trump Republicans are a cabal of thuggery.

Not one smidgeon of decency exists in them.

[procon]

9. Its a nice gesture, but it will go nowhere without Republican approval. nt

[Sucha NastyWoman]

10. Mob Presidency

With Putin's Puppet at the head

[lark]

11. But Putin's the best president ever, so manly and so beloved!

Just ask the orange assface, he'll tell you all about it. He emulates his master in every way possible, except so far, we haven't seen bodies dropping. Hopefully that waits forever, or we get rid of him before he gets to that point (best option by far, lol).

[trueblue2007]

12. IT IS TIME Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R) and Dan Sullivan (R) To become DEMOCRATS !!!!

[workinclasszero]

13. Government by threat and blackmail now

I except no less from the Trump crime family.

[turbinetree]

14. Zinke is a Yonega

What a POS, blackmailing a sitting US Senator on a vote......................fucking amazing

[2naSalit]

15. Many of us begged...

incoming President Obama to appoint him as Sec of Interior and we got cowboy Ken Salazar instead.



Still pissed about that.

[panader0]

16. Grijalva is one of the few bright lights in Arizona politics.

Thanks Raul....

[LittleGirl]

18. Indeed. eom

[LittleGirl]

17. He's my rep!

Blackmail is illegal right?

this administration is a disaster and #45 needs to learn about how government works and not use his "unethical business tactics" to get things done. Plueeeze.

[maxsolomon]

19. This isn't how it's typically done?

Extortion?

Or is this just too blatant for DC's comity and decorum?

[ehrnst]

20. No, It's not how it's typically done. (nt)

[onenote]

21. its the way LBJ did things

and I recall a few DUers arguing we needed more of those strong-arming tactics when Obama was in office and Reid was majority leader.

[Soxfan58]

22. This is sounding more like the Sopranos

Than the West Wing. Right down to the russian mob ties.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

23. Don Trumpleone.

So, Jr. is Fredo. Is Kushner Michael?