Calls to investigate Trump emerge on Republican side
Lawmakers join call for documentation of Comey conversations
Erin Kelly and Eliza Collins
Congressional Republicans appeared to be digging in Wednesday for a long investigation of President Trump amid reports this week that he shared sensitive intelligence information with the Russians and asked former FBI director James Comey to shut down the bureau’s probe of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R- Wis., said he supports House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz’s request to acting FBI director Andrew McCabe for copies of Comey’s reported memos documenting his conversations with Trump, and any other notes, summaries or recordings of communications between them.
The Utah Republican tweeted Tuesday night, “I have my subpoena pen ready.”
Ryan said that investigation and ongoing inquiries by the House and Senate Intelligence committees should not be rushed.
“Our job is to be responsible, sober and concentrate on gathering the facts,” Ryan said. “That obviously takes some time.”
Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R- N. C., and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the panel’s senior Democrat, said they sent a letter to Comey asking him to appear before the com- mittee for open and closed sessions. They also sent a letter to McCabe seeking any memos or notes Comey prepared regarding any communications he had with senior White House and Justice Department officials related to investigations into Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 U. S. presidential election.
A growing number of Republicans in Congress were openly criticizing the president, with one even mentioning impeachment and another raising the specter of Watergate.
Rep. Justin Amash, a Michigan conservative, said Tuesday that if the allegation in the reported Comey memo is true, it was grounds for impeachment.
Amash joined Rep. Walter Jones, RN. C., in signing onto a Democrat- sponsored bill to create an independent commission to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
While some rank- and- file Democrats have talked about impeachment, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, DN. Y., said it is too early to jump to conclusions without a thorough investigation.
Sen. John McCain, R- Ariz., compared the growing scandals to Watergate.
“I think we’ve seen this movie before. I think it appears at a point where it’s of Watergate size and scale,” McCain was quoted as saying by The
Daily Beast during a dinner Tuesday in Washington, D. C.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- S. C., said Wednesday that he wanted Comey to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is investigating Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.
“The sooner Mr. Comey testifies publicly before the Judiciary Committee, the better for our nation,” Graham said. “I will follow the facts, wherever they may lead.”