Russian connection:
The GOP and Democratic leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee promise a thorough probe of Trump campaign contacts.
WASHINGTON — Leaders of the Senate investigation into President Trump’s possible ties to Russia on Wednesday sought to distance themselves from the flagging House inquiry, eager to establish their work as credible in the face of growing doubts about Congress’ capacity to hold Trump and his associates to account.
In a conspicuous show of bipartisanship during a fraught moment at the Capitol, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee pledged to forge ahead by interviewing key players connected to Trump and pressing intelligence agencies to provide all relevant information.
Their composed and seemingly unified display served as a contrast to the explosive and often bewildering statements from the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, whose ties to the Trump White House have raised doubts about his ability to conduct an impartial investigation.
Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the Senate committee’s Republican chairman and a supporter of Trump during the campaign, on Wednesday suggested he would not shy away from a process that could damage the reputation of a Republican president.
“This investigation’s scope will go wherever the intelligence leads,” Burr said.
Burr and his Democratic counterpart on the committee, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, left little doubt that they viewed the House’s unruly process as an afterthought, one that should not reflect on their own efforts.
Each senator offered some evidence of what they had reviewed so far, with Warner saying that there could have been 1,000 Internet trolls in Russia who generated fake news stories, and Burr noting that it was clear that Russians are “actively involved” in the French elections.
It was clear that Burr and Warner wanted to project a level of cooperation that has disintegrated in the House.
“Let me set the ground rules real quick,” Burr said on Wednesday before taking questions. “We’ll answer anything about the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation. We will not take questions on the House Intelligence Committee.”
Burr could not suppress a smirk. Warner laughed outright.
Earlier Wednesday, a Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee made a request in a letter to Sen. Burr and Sen. Warner for a thorough review of the financial relationships between Russia and Trump and his associates.
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said it’s important for the committee to separate fact from speculation amid reports that several individuals received funds from Russia.