The Investigation into Russia Seems to be Slowing Down in the Congressional Committees
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Investigation into Russia and possible collusion between Russia and Trump started with the firing of James Comey early this year. We don’t know when it will end, but there are at least four different factions working on the investigation. In addition to the investigation by the FBI and special counsel Robert S. Mueller, there are three congressional committees looking into Russia. However, any momentum they had is slowing down, due in part to partisan quarrels.
The House Intelligence Committee, looking into collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump, is facing partisan bickering. Chairman of the committee, republican Devin Nunes was forced to step aside from leading the investigation. It was revealed that he received classified documents from the White House, showing that information regarding Trump was included in foreign surveillance. However, Nunes is still influential in the Investigation. For one thing, they still need his signature to approve all subpoenas. Another thing, he seems to be guiding the investigation towards questions about the Steele Dossier. It is still unclear how much of the Dossier has been confirmed. We know that a corporation called Fusion GPS hired former British spy, Christopher Steele, to research Trump before the election. Lawyers from Fusion GPS have refused the subpoena issued by the House Intelligence Committee. The committee is put off by this as both the public, and the President are eager to know who paid for the dossier. In a tweet, Trump says, “Officials behind the now discredited ‘Dossier’ plead the fifth. Justice Department and/or FBI should immediately release who paid for it.”
The Senate Intelligence Committee seems to do better at playing nice between parties, but they also aren’t getting very far with the Dossier. The committee chairman, republican Richard Burr, is frustrated with Steele’s reluctance to meet with his committee. Though they seem to be doing the most out of any committee, some think that it still won’t amount to much. Former chairwoman, democrat Dianne Feinstein, thinks that Mueller’s investigation will produce far more definitive evidence and claims. Regardless of where they currently are in the investigation, Burr says that he wants to wrap up the main part of it by late spring, next year.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is also looking into Russian ties with Trump, and as part of that, the firing of James Comey. However, this committee seems to be the least productive. This summer they decided on looking into James Comey, but they are still struggling to get the Investigation off the ground. There is partisan debate over which witnesses to call and what documents to request. They are at an impasse and very little is getting done.
It is clear Trump wants this investigation over as quickly as possible. He said in an interview with CNN last Monday, “The stole Russian thing was an excuse for the democrats losing the election.” It still isn’t really clear where Mueller’s Investigation is at, but we know he is definitely looking into Paul Manifort. It is unclear where the entire Russia Investigation is going, but the committees aren’t seeming to be getting very much done.
