Some Dems resist new Russia select committee
Source: Politico
12/22/16 05:14 AM EST
The bipartisan push for a special congressional committee to investigate Russian meddling in the election is running into a new hurdle: Senate Democrats.
Several members of the party, particularly those on the Intelligence Committee, are noncommittal about setting up a new select committee specifically devoted to cybersecurity that would also investigate Russian influence on the presidential election. Instead, some Democrats will wait to see whether Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) will follow through on his pledge to expeditiously investigate the electronic break-ins and preside over public hearings about the matter.
Democrats are also protecting their turf. Intelligence Committee members have little to gain right now by breaking with Burr, because they already have access to intelligence briefings that other members are hoping to get access to as part of a broader special panel. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are making a bipartisan push for a special select committee to tackle the Russia hacking and cybersecurity more broadly.
That panel would, under one proposal, take key members from across the various committees with jurisdiction over cybersecurity and create one central clearinghouse for oversight over the Russia hackings as well as cyberthreats from other countries like North Korea and Iran. Schumer, Reed and McCain will all have access to the Intelligence Committee briefings regardless; Reed and McCain are "ex-officio" members of the committee and Schumer will get new intelligence briefings because he is leader of the Democrats. ......................
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/russia-democrats-select-committee-232900
I am in favor of the Select committee.
Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)I'm sure if the shoe was on the other foot there would be non-committal Republicans!
groundloop
(11,486 posts)Roland99
(53,342 posts)The GOP has proven they canNOT be trusted over ANYTHING!
It's time to go for their jugular and never let up!
cstanleytech
(26,080 posts)Republicans do what many of us expect which is to stonewall any investigation.
If they actually do that then it becomes a potential club the Democrats can hopefully bludgeon the Republicans with into unconsciousness at the mid terms.
Are you an electrical engineer? We talked about ground loops a lot in my previous job.
Ford_Prefect
(7,817 posts)misdirect inquiry into all manner of intell to suit the new congressional overlords and their pet Orangutan, in much the same way as the "Benghazi" committee was used. It is also meant to bypass the normal oversight activities and restrictions of the Senate Intelligence Committee as a means of diffusing the influence of the CIA and other agencies. This is one more ploy to overturn the separation of powers and nothing more.
Burr is a willing tool. He needs to retire to Bald Head Island and be forced to stay there year round.