Dems: GOP blocks Russia subpoenas

Dispute shows split among members on House Intel Committee

WASHINGTON – Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee say their Republican colleagues are trying to thwart the Russia investigation by refusing to issue or enforce subpoenas for documents that could prove whether witnesses are lying.

“If we’re not willing to force them to give us the documents we need to question them, then we’re essentially taking these witnesses at their word — and most of them are not worthy of being taken at their word,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.

The dispute over obtaining documents is part of a larger split between Republicans and Democrats on the committee, which was once known for its bipartisanship but has struggled to remain unified as it investigates Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the senior Democrat on the committee, raised objections about the Republican majority scheduling witnesses to testify before members have had a chance to see any documents that could corroborate or refute the testimony. “I think there is a rush on (Republicans’) part to bring the investigation to an end,” Schiff said. “They’re adhering to a political deadline rather than one set by the demands of a proper investigation.”

Neither Chairman Devin Nunes, RCalif., nor Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, who is heading the panel’s Russia investigation, would comment for this story.

But Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who like Schiff is a former federal prosecutor, said he agrees with Democrats that committee members would be much better prepared to question witnesses if they could get their hands on relevant documents beforehand.

“Yes, Adam’s right on that,” Gowdy said, referring to Schiff. “I always want the documents first because it makes your questioning much more effective and on point.”

But Gowdy said he can’t help but laugh at the “unmitigated hypocrisy” of Democrats, who “didn’t give a damn” when he was complaining about the issue while leading inquiries of the Obama administration.

“Where were they then?” asked Gowdy, who led investigations into the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, and the controversial Fast and Furious operation in which federal agents funneled guns to illegal buyers to try to track the weapons back to Mexican drug cartels.

Democrats said the recently released transcript of a closed-door interview the committee conducted with former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page shows why documents are so important in pressing witnesses to tell the truth. Page was subpoenaed to testify but did not turn over documents requested by the committee before his interview, Swalwell said.

Fortunately, Swalwell said, the committee had access to emails it had obtained from the Trump campaign. He said Democrats used those documents to “pound Page like a piñata” to get him to admit that he traveled to Moscow in July 2016 with the knowledge of key Trump campaign officials and met Russian deputy prime minster Arkadiy Dvorkovich. Page had denied meeting with any senior Russian officials.

“I think there is a rush on (Republicans’) part to bring the investigation to an end.” Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.