Most polled want separate Russia probe
NEW YORK - A slim majority of Americans favor an independent investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties with the Russian government, according to a new poll by The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research that showed public views about the controversy driving congressional investigations are sharply divided along party lines.
Amid questions swirling in Washington that have forced the resignation of one top Trump official and the scrutiny of several others, most Americans say they’re at least somewhat concerned about the possibility that the Republican businessman’s campaign had inappropriate contacts with the Russian government, but less than half say they’re very concerned.
More than three-quarters of Democrats favor an independent investigation into Trump’s Russian ties while only one-quarter of Republicans do. Overall, 52% of Americans favor such a probe, while 23% are opposed. Another 22% say they neither favor nor oppose an investigation. Asked if they favor an independent investigation into the issue of Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 campaign, Americans broke along similar margins.
“Russia has always been an enemy of the United States and of democracy across the world. Our politicians have no business making secret deals with them. That’s not the America I know,” said John Dodd, 68, who runs a bowling alley in Big Spring, Texas. “Every day, I turn on the news and it feels like there’s more to it. For our country’s sake, I hope it leads to nowhere. But I am afraid it does.”
Questions about possible ties between Trump’s associates and Russian officials have dogged the White House.
Since July, the FBI has been conducting a counterintelligence investigation into Russia’s interference in the election and possible coordination with Trump associates. House and Senate intelligence committees, led by Republican lawmakers, are also investigating. Some Democratic leaders have called for an independent investigation, saying the congressional probes, particularly the House investigation, has been tainted by political interference from the White House.
Several Trump associates have been caught up in the controversy. Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was forced to resign after he misled the vice president about conversations with a Russian ambassador. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the Justice Department investigation after he did not disclose a meeting with the same ambassador. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner has volunteered to be questioned by congressional investigators. Former campaign manager Paul Manafort’s connections to Russia are part of the congressional probes.
According to the poll, 44% of Americans say they’re very or extremely concerned that Trump or others involved in his campaign had inappropriate contacts with the Russian government. Another 18% say they’re somewhat concerned, and 36% say they’re not very concerned or not concerned at all.
On the whole, Americans are far less likely to see a need for an investigation into Trump’s wiretapping accusations — 35% in favor to 38% opposed.