White House briefs top Republicans - but not Democrats - on Russia bounty row

[ffr]

Top White House officials briefed seven House Republicans on Monday on the ongoing controversy surrounding an alleged Russian bounty scheme for Afghani militants to kill US soldiers.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, and national security adviser Robert O'Brien met with the seven GOP lawmakers on Monday afternoon in the White House Situation Room to discuss the Russia bounty allegations.

Attending the meeting were House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, Foreign Affairs ranking member Michael McCaul, Armed Services ranking member Mac Thornberry, and four others in prominent national security and leadership positions.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have both demanded briefings for their respective chambers on what Donald Trump and his intelligence community knew about the alleged Russian bounty programme and why it wasn't reported all the way up the chain of command to the president and his top advisers such as Vice President Mike Pence, if that is indeed the case.

"We need to know whether or not President Trump was told this information, and if so, when,” Mr Schumer said in a statement on Monday. - Independent UK

The circling of the wagons has begun. The KGOP spin machine going into overtime on how something this bad can make them look good.

[cayugafalls]

1. Unacceptable.

This has to stop now. I pray this will sink them.

Let this end now.

[Thomas Hurt]

2. Got to figure out the cover up and narrative don't they....

[Mike 03]

4. Yup, probably.

They're not getting briefed, they are getting the story straight so the GOP can go march onto Fox News and repeat the new official White House Lie.

Disgraceful.

[ace3csusm]

3. Talking Points Meeting

How do we spinning, I know blame Obama and Hillary, this is part of Benghazi

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Got to flood the Afternoon News Cycle

with more Lies . You could see this coming miles away. Another Mark Meadows created nightmare for the Rethugs.

[global1]

6. And People Here Are Thinking Trump Is Going To Resign.....

Not gonna happen. They're still circling the wagons for this criminal. Every day things get more outrageous.

[chriscan64]

7. Not a briefing to discuss the real world policy issues mind you

just a campaign meeting using government resources.

[Mike 03]

8. Despicable new low.

Even Democrats were allowed into the Iran briefing after the assassination of Soleimani.

Never heard of an intelligence briefing where one party was excluded.

I guess Republicans are so much easier to lie to.

[NCjack]

9. DEMs turning the other cheek has never worked with Repugs. There must be consequences.

[Alex4Martinez]

10. It looks like a duck and quacks like a duck. We are witness to treason and collusion by the lot.

It couldn't be much plainer.

[gratuitous]

11. In case you've made the mistake of thinking any Republican has integrity

Every Republican dutifully went to the meeting and stayed even after it became clear that no Democrats were going to be there.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

12. Substitute "Russiapublican" for "Republican" and it makes more sense.

Also, substitute "Gangsters Of Putin" for "GOP" and things become clearer.

[dmr]

13. They have much to hide, and have to get their stories straight.

Traitors, the lot of them. All for the gold purse to buy themselves some more power.

Shame, shame, shame.

But .... Bengazi!

[malaise]

14. Adam Schiff is on CNN right now

discussing this

[Hermit-The-Prog]

15. Hope he's mad. He's eloquent when mad (I get incoherent).