Email from my repug congressman: [View all]

[trof]

Bradley Byrne
First District, Alabama
Serving Baldwin, Clarke,
Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington Counties

House Committees:
Armed Services
Education and the Workforce
Rules

May 22, 2017

Dear trof:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding the ongoing investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Let me be clear: the 2016 election is over and nothing indicates that any conduct by Russia had an effect on the outcome of the election. After a hard fought campaign, President Donald J. Trump was duly elected President by the American people.

That said, any attempted interference by any country, including through members of a presidential campaign, is unacceptable and must be investigated. For that reason, I support the ongoing investigations into this issue by the United States Congress and the Department of Justice.

In the House of Representatives, the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have ongoing bipartisan investigations into this matter. In the Senate, the relevant committees of jurisdiction are also conducting their own investigations. I have complete confidence in my congressional colleagues leading these investigations to be thorough and nonpartisan in their assessment and to get to the bottom of this issue.

On May 17, 2017, Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Muller as special counsel to investigate this matter for the Department of Justice (DOJ). Special Counsels operate independently within the DOJ to investigate sensitive matters of potential wrong doing. Director Muller has received bipartisan praise, and I also have the highest confidence in his ability to complete this important task.

Although I recognize some Americans have concerns that President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey will influence the DOJ investigation, the Acting Director of the FBI has indicated this is not the case. Many Republicans and Democrats had called for Director Comey’s firing before and after the election due to his poor performance as head of the FBI, and the President had complete authority to fire him for any reason under federal law. However, the appointment of Director Muller should give all Americans confidence in the continued impartiality of this investigation by the Department of Justice.

In the digital age, it is easy to jump to conclusions and convict individuals of wrongdoing based upon the latest breaking news. That is not how the American system works. Rather than jumping to judgment, it is important that we collect all the facts and allow time for the nonpartisan investigatory process to play out.

Please be assured, as your Congressman, I will continue to monitor this issue closely and keep your thoughts in mind.

I am honored to serve as your voice in Congress, and I hope you will stay in touch. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance to you.

119 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4931
www.Byrne.House.Gov

Feel free to contact him and express your feeling.