UPDATE: Republicans find no evidence of collusion or Russian preference for Trump
Source: Washington Post
House Intelligence Committee Republicans have completed a draft report in their year-long Russia probe that states they found no evidence President Trump or anyone affiliated with him colluded with Russian officials to affect the outcome of the 2016 elections, a conclusion expected to incite backlash from committee Democrats.
Republicans also determined that while the Russian government did pursue active measures to interfere in the 2016 election, they did not do so with the intention of helping Trumps campaign, contradicting the findings of the intelligence community.
We've found no evidence of collusion, Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Tex.), who is in charge of the Russia probe, told reporters on Monday. He noted that the worst they had uncovered was perhaps some bad judgment, inappropriate meetings, inappropriate judgment at taking meetings such as the June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower, which Conaway said shouldn't have happened, no doubt about that.
But only Tom Clancy or Vince Flynn or someone else like that could take this series of inadvertent contacts with each other, meetings, whatever and weave that into some sort of a fiction, page turner spy thriller, Conaway said. Were not dealing in fiction, were dealing in facts and we found no evidence of any collusion.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-find-no-evidence-of-collusion-or-russian-preference-for-trump/2018/03/12/28c2cd44-2639-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html
Original headline/post -
Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee have also determined that while the Russian government did try to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, it did not do so with the intention of helping President Trumps campaign, contradicting the U.S. intelligence community's findings.
The conclusion is at odds with the impression held by the panels Democrats, who have interviewed the same 73 witnesses and scrutinized the same documents.
Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Tex), who has overseen the committee's investigation, said the Republican-authored report would be shared with Democrats on Tuesday, for their comments, additions and objections. We found nothing with which to make a criminal referral to [the Justice Department] on, he added.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
New York Times article -
WASHINGTON Even as the special counsel expands his inquiry and pursues criminal charges against at least four Trump associates, House Intelligence Committee Republicans said Monday they have found no evidence of collusion between Donald J. Trumps presidential campaign and Russia to sway the 2016 election.
Representative K. Michael Conaway of Texas, who is leading the investigation, said committee Republicans agreed with the conclusions of American intelligence agencies that Russia had interfered with the election, but they broke with the agencies on one crucial point: that the Russians had favored Mr. Trumps candidacy.
The bottom line: The Russians did commit active measures against our election in 16, and we think they will do that in the future, Mr. Conaway said. But, he added, We disagree with the narrative that they were trying to help Trump.
The announcement brought to an abrupt end to one of two remaining bipartisan investigations into the topic on Capitol Hill and is sure to provoke sharp objections from committee Democrats, who have been warning Republicans not to close the matter. Republicans have decided to end the inquiry even as new evidence has emerged that the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, is pursuing new lines of inquiry related to the case that have been left largely unexplored by the committee.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/us/politics/house-intelligence-trump-russia.html
Edit to add - from Conway: "perhaps some bad judgment".
Eliot Rosewater
(31,131 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,892 posts)and then we will be Chairs of all of these committees and will probably have to start all over....
PatrickforO
(14,602 posts)when we fight each other. Keeps us from seeing who is really picking our pocket and who is the real enemy of freedom. And it isn't the Republicans - they are just paid shills. Evil yes, but the REAL enemy, the (old, white, liver spotted, grasping) men behind the curtain is the big capitalist billionaire parasites.
MarcA
(2,195 posts)The trump circus is bad but the real important item is who is profiting.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)Discrimination and prejudice, while terrible and sickening, is CAUSED by 1%er exploitation. We must admit to these contrived differences and address the root causes. Time for a NEW new deal!
underpants
(182,993 posts)SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)Don't think they won't. Their goal is to ensure they have FIXED elections for years to come.
LenaBaby61
(6,979 posts)Thuglicans (In the Congress) are definitely going to go after Mueller, and as you said they want a one-party rule permanently.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Cha
(297,935 posts)Lie their damn heads off.
sheshe2
(84,005 posts)Putin got them all for the price of one. Buy one, get the rest free.
Cha
(297,935 posts)So true dat! Cheaper by the dozens.
Can't wait till this all blows up in their collective mole face one fine day
sheshe2
(84,005 posts)So will the jail cells, Cha.
Raster
(20,998 posts)...I would not be surprised to eventually find that multiple GOP Congresspersons are either owned or purchased by the Kremlin.
sheshe2
(84,005 posts)They are all colluding with Russia, Raster.
Raster
(20,998 posts)The GOP has sold their souls to Putin* and the Kremlin.
yuiyoshida
(41,869 posts)along with their soviet subs in all our harbors... CHECKMATE!
sheshe2
(84,005 posts)Yes they did. They are treasonous bastards that need to be voted out as an enemy to the United States.
Raster
(20,998 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,544 posts)McConnell certainly acted as if he knew the fix was in when he held up a Supreme Court nominee for an unprecedented length of time. Ryan hushed his comrades in that infamous tape.
It does not stretch belief that the GOPers would sell out to a foreign dictator in order to remain in power. The Republican party has given us a Government Of Putin.
Docreed2003
(16,890 posts)sheshe2
(84,005 posts)Docreed2003
(16,890 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,227 posts)"That's cute."
pwb
(11,304 posts)dchill
(38,594 posts)bluestarone
(17,102 posts)ONE ENFORCED SUBPOENA??????
dchill
(38,594 posts)DavidDvorkin
(19,504 posts)Stop the presses!
Freethinker65
(10,093 posts)The fact that many of those that testified refused to even answer any questions that would provide evidence of conspiracy or collusion is what will damn this lot of partisan GOP hacks. History will prove this committee was a sham from the beginning.
Doodley
(9,164 posts)NastyRiffraff
(12,448 posts)Of course he as well as we knew this shit was coming. I hope Rachel has him on tonight.
HootieMcBoob
(3,823 posts)The entire Republican Party is guilty of treason and of enabling treason.
still_one
(92,492 posts)Taraman
(375 posts)nini
(16,672 posts)And you know a bunch of them are as guilty as 45 is.
hlthe2b
(102,496 posts)and that Nunes et al were going to do this could have been predicted long ago.
Still In Wisconsin
(4,450 posts)Oh, and MAGA!!!!
global1
(25,294 posts)out with his report contradicting their report.
regnaD kciN
(26,045 posts)...that, whatever Mueller finds, House Republicans will simply say "we investigated, and respectfully disagree with the Special Council's conclusions," then do nothing.
global1
(25,294 posts)detail - unlike the Repugs report.
Mueller can't just gloss over things like the Repugs just did. He has to be very specific in his conclusions and make sure that his "i's" dotted and the "t's" are crossed. He'll lay out the whole picture. I believe it will be very hard for the House Repugs to refute.
Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)but didn't care who won, why did they bother in the first place. There isn't any way they wanted Clinton to win.
barbtries
(28,817 posts)but this begs for some good ones.
why not just write a report saying we refuse to investigate because we don't want to know.
H2O Man
(73,668 posts)they should release this in the comic section of the Sunday newspapers.
keithbvadu2
(37,012 posts)Need many more investigations and eleven hours of testimony from the Donald.
And spend $$$millions for it all, of course.
mchill
(1,020 posts)because the witnesses thought the questions inappropriate.
How did they AF draw any conclusions without information?
I am livid.
TheSmarterDog
(794 posts)lamp_shade
(14,850 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,892 posts)laserhaas
(7,805 posts)ffr
(22,676 posts)That, there is ample evidence of, even with this conservative cover-up.
doc03
(35,432 posts)Lint Head
(15,064 posts)executed. They are enabling an enemy who wants to see the death of the American Constitution. They swore to uphold The Constitution. They have basically joined Putin and his criminal gang in his dream to takeover and destroy our way of life.
Flame away that I am exaggerating and being alarmist. Thank the gods we had people who were willing to fight and die to protect our country and keep authoritarian fascists out of our country.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,031 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)I think it is time to have an investigation on the Republicans involved like Nunes. Surely, an obstruction charge would be warranted.
This absolutely infuriates me. I hope Schiff stands strong (if he can) because there is definitely cover-up with the Republican side.
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)Bring him all the transcripts showing which R's made a mockery of the investigation. Mueller will put that to good use.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)One advantage we have is Mueller and Schiff. I think both have the respect of the sane population---dismiss the Republicans who will always support Trump---and they should be able to form some kind of action to show that Republican bunch they can't pull these shenanigans. Nunes was unleashed and obviously encouraged to do whatever he needed to do to get that investigation stopped.
Let's get some solution done before the end of March. If Boulton is brought on as COS, we'll totally lose control of the whole shebang.
aggiesal
(8,945 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,064 posts)NRaleighLiberal
(60,031 posts)The leader of the House Intelligence Committees probe of Russian election meddling announced Monday that the first phase of the probe was over.
We will now be moving into the next phase of this investigation, working with the minority on a report to give the American people answers to the questions theyve been asking for over a year, Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) said in a statement, adding that with just 238 days until the mid-term elections in November, its important that we give the American people the information they need to arm themselves against Russian attempts to influence our elections. (Read Conaways full statement below.)
An attached one-page summary of a draft report promises 40+ initial findings that describe, among other things, that We have found no evidence of collusion, coordination, or conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Republicans said they would share their draft with Democrats Tuesday.
The committee has faced a bitter partisan divide in its approach to the investigation. The USA Today noted Monday that Democrats on the committee will pen their own report with likely far different conclusions that Republicans.
snip - read the rest at the link.
the comments are as always really good
BumRushDaShow
(129,892 posts)to start investigating Democrats, per your article ("unmasking", "FISA abuse", etc). I.e., distract distract, slow walk, distract.
IronLionZion
(45,615 posts)or any connection between easy access to guns and mass shootings
They looked everywhere so we don't have to.
still_one
(92,492 posts)True_Blue
(3,063 posts)Our only hope is to get the republican traitors out of office.
LonePirate
(13,437 posts)Of course, the reason for both is naked partisanship.
BumRushDaShow
(129,892 posts)in the marathon useless and costly investigations realm.
Soon to be followed by "Unmask-gate", "FISA-gate", and they'll probably resurrect "Did Obama 'tapp' my phone?-gate".
2left4u
(186 posts)How is this even newsworthy and why is this being circulated at all as if any shred of credibility is associated with it.
wishstar
(5,272 posts)so continuing the investigation was a liability for Trump plus it was giving a prominent platform for Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell to inform the American public with truth that Repubs want to hide.
SeattleVet
(5,481 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,449 posts)because it's one-sided. It takes consensus to give an investigation credibility. This is a sham.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,722 posts)olddad56
(5,732 posts)yuiyoshida
(41,869 posts)C Moon
(12,225 posts)Vinca
(50,323 posts)Mueller's not closing shop.
Hassler
(3,395 posts)"I love WikiLeaks!"
rlegro
(338 posts)MurrayDelph
(5,302 posts)that they forgot to change the timestamp on this report from last year.
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)jmowreader
(50,580 posts)When Trump is proven guilty of collusion by Robert Mueller's panel, every Republican who signed onto this report can be charged with obstruction of justice.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,398 posts)This shit isn't going away.
ancianita
(36,207 posts)SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)But they know that. They also know that many of them will be without a job next year. I hope their protection of, and their collusion with, Trump, was worth it for them. There aren't enough lobbying jobs for all of them, especially the ones with a more visible profile. Fuck you, House GOP, fuck you!
hurple
(1,307 posts)The Republicans in the House better hope against all that's holy that Mueller doesn't release a detailed account that disagrees with their assessment or they can all kiss their careers goodbye... And their reputations...
This could get fun, now...
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)Republicans committing treason and obstruction like crazy, and for now getting away with it. It's so insanely unfair, and voting them out isn't enough. These people belong in jail.
But it seems like America is on the verge of complete collapse.
Anyone able to sneak me into a real country please?!
TomCADem
(17,390 posts)Bernie can certainly point to this report to support his vote.