By Devlin Barrett and Adam Entous
The Trump administration (click here) sought to block former acting attorney general Sally Yates from testifying to Congress in the House investigation of links between Russian officials and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, The Washington Post has learned, a position that is likely to further anger Democrats who have accused Republicans of trying to damage the inquiry.
According to letters The Post reviewed, the Justice Department notified Yates earlier this month that the administration considers a great deal of her possible testimony to be barred from discussion in a congressional hearing because the topics are covered by the presidential communication privilege.
Yates and other former intelligence officials had been asked to testify before the House Intelligence Committee this week, a hearing that Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) abruptly canceled. Yates was the deputy attorney general in the final years of the Obama administration, and served as the acting attorney general in the first days of the Trump administration.
President Trump fired Yates in January after she ordered Justice Department lawyers not to defend his first immigration order temporarily banning entry to United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world....
Trump cannot deny he was personally involved in any of the decisions about Russia. During his campaign he solicited Russia openly to help his campaign win the White House. Did he not? Absolutely he did. Now, he is trying to suppress evidence that backs up his arrogant campaign chants.
Such reality only brings to mind the fact his son-in-law, Kushner is now responsible for all kinds of decision making in the White House. Trump will sell out is own relatives in order to carry out his bizarre presidency. No surprise there.
The special (click here) Senate Watergate investigation committee chaired by Senator Sam Ervin, D, NC (in center of the picture) revealed that President Richard M. Nixon was personally involved in the "cover-up" of the break-in and other illegal activities via the so-called Plumbers Unit that included political espionage carried out against Senator Edmund Muskie (D, Me) who at the time was the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination.
And what is the defense of the US Senate for attempting to further suppress evidence? "Blame the victim." And what a victim it is, a woman, easily a disposable person in the world of Republicans.
March 28, 2017
From Haaretz and the AP
That is interesting. Haaretz is carrying a sincere interest in the cover up. Very interesting.
The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee (click here) is asking whether an open congressional hearing on the Russia probe was canceled because the White House did not want former acting Attorney General Sally Yates to testify and assert executive privilege.
Rep. Adam Schiff of California says Yates was poised to testify Tuesday about the events leading up to the firing of Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, including his attempts to cover up conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.
Schiff said Yates had sought permission to testify from the White House, adding that he hopes the hearing can be rescheduled without delay....
California voters can't put pressure on their US representative? California's 22nd district is going to tolerate obstruction of an investigation? Really?
March 28, 2017
By Erik Ortiz and Andrew Rafferty
By Erik Ortiz and Andrew Rafferty
Pressure continued (click here) to mount on Tuesday for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes to recuse himself from the panel's investigation into Russia amid a growing firestorm of criticism for meeting with a confidential source at the White House to review intelligence reports.
The California Republican told reporters "the investigation continues" and questioned why he would remove himself from the probe despite growing concerns about his impartiality after sharing information about the investigation with President Donald Trump before members of the committee....
