I’m so glad I’ve been watching tennis nonstop for days, or else my blood pressure would have spiked with yesterday’s news: the House Intelligence Committee has ended their investigation into Donald Trump’s collusion with Russia. The House and Senate have Republican majorities, meaning that all committees are led by Republicans and Republicans get to write their own majority-opinion reports. The majority opinion of the Republicans in the House Intel Committee is that Russia interfered with the election, but Russia wasn’t specifically trying to get Trump elected.
Rep. Mike Conaway, the Texas Republican leading the Russia investigation, said Monday that the committee had concluded its interviews for the Russia investigation, and the Republican staff had prepared a 150-page draft report that they would give to Democrats to review on Tuesday morning. The committee Republicans said Russians did meddle in the elections to sow chaos, but they disagreed with the intelligence community’s assessment that they sought to help Trump.
“We found no evidence of collusion, and so we found perhaps some bad judgment, inappropriate meetings,” Conaway said. “We found no evidence of any collusion of anything people were actually doing other than taking a meeting they shouldn’t have taken or just inadvertently being in the same building.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the committee, slammed the Republican decision to end the investigation.
“While the majority members of our committee have indicated for some time that they have been under great pressure to end the investigation, it is nonetheless another tragic milestone for this Congress, and represents yet another capitulation to the executive branch,” Schiff said in a statement. “By ending its oversight role in the only authorized investigation in the House, the Majority has placed the interests of protecting the President over protecting the country, and history will judge its actions harshly.”
The Senate investigation is ongoing, with Republican Richard Burr as the chair and Virginia Democrat Mark Warner as the vice chair. Warner is my senator, and he’s been doing the lord’s work in trying to keep the Senate investigation focused on the right things. But I also believe that eventually Burr will capitulate to Russia and Trump and issue a similar majority report on the Senate side. None of this is really important long-term, especially given the fact that the walls are closing in on Denture Donny. You know how I know? Because men with nothing to hide, men who feel completely vindicated, they never do ALL-CAPS TWEETS.
THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS, AFTER A 14 MONTH LONG IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018
Much caps-lock. So indictment.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
And the WH refused to acknowledge Russia tried a poison attack in Britain. Cause we’re a Russian federation now.
Yes, exactly! I was commenting with my husband this morning on the fact that in the 80’s who would have thought that Russia and the USA would now be barely disguised allies (would that be the right word)?
Allies implies that there’s some equilibrium in the relationship. The US isn’t getting anything out of this at all.
Isn’t it @Neelyo? There must be some hidden goal if it is just personal goals ($$).
Yes, the scary thing is the our Prime Minister has issued Russia with an ultimatum – they have until midnight tonight to explain themselves or their will be consequences (not sure what they will be, expelling diplomats/additional trade sanctions from the EU).
I’m betting Trump will speak out against May in the coming days, gotta back his paymaster up.
Yes, that’s what prompted my conversation this morning with my husband. We live in the UK and the only thing one can be grateful for here nowadays is the standing up to Russia. Yes, I guess diplomats will be expelled but the real hope is that Nato will get behind the UK. How can Putin affect two of the worlds most powerful countries’s votes (45 + Brexit) and no one bats ab eye or does anything? It’s mind boggling.
“Yes, the scary thing is the our Prime Minister has issued Russia with an ultimatum – they have until midnight tonight to explain themselves or their will be consequences (not sure what they will be, expelling diplomats/additional trade sanctions from the EU).”
May is so unprofessional it could be funny. I doubt Russia will explain itself to UK. Does anybody take UK seriously now? Honestly? After Brexit and all. UK is not a British Empire.
Except Tillerson acknowledged the link…. and now he is gone. This is insane. I could never imagine a US government so enthralled to Russia.
But, but, but Putin said the Russians didn’t poison him. We have to believe him, right? (*sarcasm*)
Sunny – you’re saying that Britain shouldn’t defend itself from Russian attacks on their soil because of Brexit and because there is no longer a British Empire?! So just let Russia walk all over them then? What country’s next in line?
Russia probably will not listen but what’s the alternative.
Consequences should be financial sanctions. That is the only thing that seems to have an impact on Putin. He has been insane about the Magnitsky Act, it seems to be a driving force for him.
Tillerson was “doing his NOT job” of dismantling the State Dept And doing damage control w African nations (after s hole made s hole remarks). Why would Rex speak out against Putin’s poisoning of a former agent? It’s not adding up- some major info is missing. Oh and Intel committee shits down re Russian interference —JUST IN TIME. HMMM
Well, there you go. Case closed. Mueller & his team can pack up and go home now. 🙄
Ha! A GOP and a Dem committee member were interviewed on NPR this morning. GOP said it’s over, the committee found no collusion. The Dem said the complete opposite. I think Mueller will have the last word.
And the Senate and House committees IN NO WAY performed an “exhaustive” search/investigation because several of their witnesses refused to answer some questions.
their investigations is FAR from “complete”. they may have ended it, but they didn’t complete it.
and yes, Mueller is still going, and has a LOT more information than either congressional committee.
I am so sick of the word “collusion” that is constantly harped on by Trump and his minions. The issues they should be looking at are: conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
@lightpurple, there is that other pesky word… treason.
LP, Orange clearly has no idea what any of those words mean. Orange’s thought processes are limited to: “agrees with me = good, does not agree with me = bad.”
Not so fast — he just fired Tillerson. Rexxon will be heading over to visit Mueller soon.
HOLY SH*TBALLS.
except that Tillerson refused to use any of the $ the state dept was given to fight election tampering. that may or may not have been at the Dotard’s direction…
@lightpurple
I expressed that same sentiment on my FB page not more than a week ago. If I never read or hear the word “collusion” again it won’t be soon enough. That word now needs to come with a trigger warning for me, it causes me to feel so much rage.
Methinks Mueller has a different take. But sure GOP we believe you. You’ll do anything to justify this banana republic because you lack a spine and fortitude
I’m starting to think there is a lot more kompromat than most of us know. as in, a LOT of the congressional GOP is compromised.
I would say almost all. And definitely all the top players.
Yep. I have been thinking that for some time.
This closed investigation is basically Devin Nunes declaring Devin Nunes innocent. Sure, Jan.
OMG, what a shock!!! Said no one ever.
Only time will tell what kind of effect this has on the investigation overall. I have never really bought into the idea that he is running scared. I think it is more that he is angry that he can’t force people to like and believe him and this is a guy who used to being told what he wants to hear and not being told no and these days he’s been getting the opposite of both. I really don’t think he’s THAT worried about jail because honestly, no matter how delusional he may be about Mueller, I’m pretty sure he and Pence have discussed ten ways from Sunday how and when everyone involved will get pardoned. The grim reality is that most of the big fish won’t be going anywhere even if Mueller is able to prove collusion.
I tend to agree that the tantrums are more to do with the fact that the masses are not on their knees worshipping him as their God Saviour.
With his towering ego he cannot stand being criticized. He is a tyrant.
ITA, grabbyhands. The delusion is strong with the Orange One. He’s a wannabe dictator and I think he truly believes that “good” = agrees with Trump and “bad” = does not agree with Trump.
This is why I believe we have to flip the House and/or Senate in 2018. Otherwise, these kleptocrats, and I definitely include the current House Republicans and some Republican senators in that label, will never check the would-be autocrat. I don’t have any faith that the clowns in the majority party will do anything with the results of Mueller’s investigation, however damning.
Schiff is correct. History will judge them harshly, especially because in about 6 months to 1 year, Mueller will indict Don Jr, Ivanka, Jared, Nunes and 45. ( Nunes was on the transition team and he’s in deep, too.)
He sent that work of art out on both his usual, more casual account, but on the POTUS account too, which is still being archived, so that will be preserved by the Library of Congress for history.
Cadet Bone Spurs thinks because the HO rolled over and played dead, the Justice Department will to. Uh-uh, Donnie. You WILL be impeached before 2020.
Resign now and get the Hell out of Dodge.
I’m confused. Does this mean that the Mueller investigation is over as well?
No its two separate investigations.
Mueller’s investigation is separate, part of the DoJ, and the Senate continues its investigation.
no, but that’s what 45 is hoping his deplorable base thinks.
Oh okay, thank you all for the replies.
This is just a bunch of republicans saying… nothing to see here!
I’ve lost all hope that this nightmare will end. I fully expect our Dictator in chief will be elected again in 2020. I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
I was just thinking the exact same thing and I felt my shoulders drop as I was filled with despair. He is filled with hate and has zero redeeming qualities. He infects our country with poison. He will be yet another old, rich man who will die with no one mourning him but his beneficiaries.
Only one investigation matters. Mr Mueller will let you know when it’s finished, Emperor Zero.
Signed,
America
Your take on Tillerson being fired/resigning?
Swack
Tillerson spoke out of turn by stating that Russia was behind the Novachok attack in Salisbury. That is a no-no.
It’s being spun as if EZ had decided over the weekend, before Tillerson spoke, that Rex was out.
Problematic for the Dotard now that a new SoS (Pompeo) will have to guide EZ around the delicacies of the North Korea visit, which I’m predicting will not happen.
Tillerson may have a small meeting with Mr Mueller about inconsequential info (state dept stuff) but may be asked about his ties to Vlad regarding his honor bestowed by Putin. Probably inconsequential still.
Thanks Eric. You always have great comments and information.
Thanks Swack
Should’ve clarified that Rex was fired this morning, not Friday evening as dotard stated.
An exclamation point on this being the case is the firing of an undersecretary to Tillerson who was fired for contradicting EZ’s claims.
Facts matter I think.
Rex Tillerson out. Unbelievable this administration
To be replaced by Mike Pompeo.
ETA out after saying Russia attacked GB and there should be consequences.
Rexxon spoke out against Russia? I thought Vlad was his bestie?
Tillerson is cutting and running. Rats escaping a drowning ship.
Don’t think this is Tillerson’s choice, no matter how much he didn’t want to be there.
ETA: apparently WaPo is reporting that Trump asked for Tillerson’s resignation last Friday.
Trump is just so LOYAL, isn’t he? He never stabs people in the back after they destroy all their credibility for him.
Hopefully now Rex has nothing to lose we’ll get a confirmation that he did indeed call Two Scoops a “f***ing moron”!
And Tillerson is now out as SoS, being replaced by CIA head Pompeo:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-ousts-tillerson-will-replace-him-as-secretary-of-state-with-cia-chief-pompeo/2018/03/13/30f34eea-26ba-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html
I think they should stop calling it the House Intelligence Committee, and start calling it what is : the Republican Agenda Intelligence Committe until November ’18, that is.
Sad but true
Tillerson has two words for the Dotard as he walks out the door:
Fucking Moron!
Trump personal assistant John McEntee was also fired yesterday for a security issue.
now reading that he wasn’t allowed to collect his personal things, either, and was escorted out “immediately” by security.
lord knows this admin doesn’t care much about who has access to national security info, so it’s gotta be that he was leaking info to Mueller (or the press, or SOMEONE) and THAT was the “security issue”.
My God, the hypocrisy of these people. McEntee is under investigation by Homeland Security for “serious financial crimes”, but still got a temporary clearance and worked in the West Wing as one of Trump’s closest aides. He finally gets fired by the White House but Trump still considers him trustworthy enough to go to work for the Trump re-election campaign. For the record – the kind of “financial crimes” Homeland Security investigates are not your garden variety credit card fraud or embezzlement. They are only interested in activities that involve international entities or foreign citizens.
These are the same people that were ready to burn Hillary at the stake for mishandling a few emails.
Financial crimes. I wasn’t aware of McEntee but nothing surprises me anymore.
Gina Haspel will replace Pompeo at the CIA. Trump is bragging about appointing the first woman to the post. Haspel has a history of supporting and possibly being actively involved in torture.
I think that Trump is probably delighted today at his effect on the news. Whatever he does drives discussion and stock markets around the world. For a megalomaniac it must be like a dream. As for his detractors, I imagine him giggling to himself that (at least for now) that we have to take it.
Definitely.
It’s overtaking the fact that he is going to CA and will probably not be well received there.
Sadly I also think he’s going to beat this investigation but I’m happy to be proven wrong.