No end near for probe of Russian election hacking

Each witness tacks on more time, questions

Congressional investigators head into 2018 having no end in sight to their probe into Russia’s suspected meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

WASHINGTON – Congressional investigators head into 2018 having no end in sight to their investigations into Russia’s suspected meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

Every time the Senate Intelligence Committee interviews a witness, said its chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., it learns the names of more people to question. The committee has interviewed more than 100 people since its investigation began in January.

“Every individual that is added, it puts about three more weeks into an investigation, so that’s why it makes it difficult for me to look out,” Burr said at the Council on Foreign Relations this month.

Revelations in news stories also contributed to the long witness list, he said.

Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told USA TODAY he believes the House panel has “many months of work ahead of us.” He said he’s worried that Republicans on the committee may try to rush the investigation to a “premature” close because of pressure from the White House.

“There are still dozens of witnesses that need to be brought in,” Schiff said. “There are a lot of interactions between the Trump campaign and Russia that still need to be fleshed out.”