Cebu_4_2
29th March 2017, 12:39 PM
Senators expand Russia investigation, amid scrutiny of House probe
Published March 29, 2017 FoxNews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/)
Facebook (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) Twitter (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) livefyre (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) Email (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) Print (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#)
http://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe/_jcr_content/par/featured-media/media-0.img.jpg/876/493/1490815148225.jpg?ve=1&tl=1
March 29, 2017: Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., right, and the committee's Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)
Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee announced Wednesday they are expanding their investigation of Russia’s interference in the U.S. presidential campaign, scheduling interviews and reviewing thousands of documents – amid mounting controversy over a similar probe undertaken by their counterparts on the House side.
“This investigation’s scope will go wherever the intelligence leads it,” Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., told reporters, speaking alongside top panel Democrat Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
The committee is set to hold its first public hearing on the Russia issue on Thursday, a session that will feature several foreign policy experts. But on the sidelines, Burr and Warner revealed new details about the scope of their investigation.
Burr said they’ve devoted seven professional staff members to the investigation, and they’re going through “an unprecedented amount of documents.” He said they’re reviewing “thousands” of raw intelligence and other products.
Further, he said the committee this week began to schedule its first interviews -- making 20 requests so far, with five already scheduled.
He confirmed that the Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and a senior adviser, is among those the committee will interview.
“We will get to the bottom of this,” Warner said.
The senators sought to assure the public of their independence and integrity in operating this investigation, amid questions over the way the related House probe is proceeding.
Chairman of the House intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., riled Democrats last week after claiming he learned that Trump transition team communications were incidentally collected during surveillance operations conducted under the prior administration. These comments appeared to conflict with FBI Director James Comey’s testimony to the same committee that they had no evidence of such surveillance, referring to allegations Trump made earlier this month.
While Trump claimed Nunes’ claims at least partly vindicated his widely challenged allegations, Democrats voiced concern that Nunes was too closely tied to Trump. They escalated calls for Nunes to recuse himself from the Russia probe after it emerged he viewed secret information on White House grounds.
Nunes has rejected those calls, and defended his actions.
Published March 29, 2017 FoxNews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/)
Facebook (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) Twitter (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) livefyre (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) Email (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#) Print (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe.html#)
http://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/politics/2017/03/29/senators-expand-russia-investigation-amid-scrutiny-house-probe/_jcr_content/par/featured-media/media-0.img.jpg/876/493/1490815148225.jpg?ve=1&tl=1
March 29, 2017: Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., right, and the committee's Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)
Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee announced Wednesday they are expanding their investigation of Russia’s interference in the U.S. presidential campaign, scheduling interviews and reviewing thousands of documents – amid mounting controversy over a similar probe undertaken by their counterparts on the House side.
“This investigation’s scope will go wherever the intelligence leads it,” Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., told reporters, speaking alongside top panel Democrat Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
The committee is set to hold its first public hearing on the Russia issue on Thursday, a session that will feature several foreign policy experts. But on the sidelines, Burr and Warner revealed new details about the scope of their investigation.
Burr said they’ve devoted seven professional staff members to the investigation, and they’re going through “an unprecedented amount of documents.” He said they’re reviewing “thousands” of raw intelligence and other products.
Further, he said the committee this week began to schedule its first interviews -- making 20 requests so far, with five already scheduled.
He confirmed that the Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and a senior adviser, is among those the committee will interview.
“We will get to the bottom of this,” Warner said.
The senators sought to assure the public of their independence and integrity in operating this investigation, amid questions over the way the related House probe is proceeding.
Chairman of the House intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., riled Democrats last week after claiming he learned that Trump transition team communications were incidentally collected during surveillance operations conducted under the prior administration. These comments appeared to conflict with FBI Director James Comey’s testimony to the same committee that they had no evidence of such surveillance, referring to allegations Trump made earlier this month.
While Trump claimed Nunes’ claims at least partly vindicated his widely challenged allegations, Democrats voiced concern that Nunes was too closely tied to Trump. They escalated calls for Nunes to recuse himself from the Russia probe after it emerged he viewed secret information on White House grounds.
Nunes has rejected those calls, and defended his actions.