BUT HOW LONG DOES AN “ACT OF CONGRESS” TAKE TO PASS?
by Sharon Rondeau
(Jun. 21, 2018) — In his opening statement on his FNC show Thursday evening, commentator Sean Hannity began by stating that his sources are saying that the possibility exists that Congress will take a vote to end Robert Mueller’s investigation of Trump-campaign-Russia “collusion” alleged in 2016.
Hannity, a Trump supporter, referred to the investigation in the term Trump often uses: a “witch hunt.”
Mueller assumed the investigation, which includes the extent to which Russia allegedly “meddled” in the 2016 election, after former FBI Director James Comey was fired by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and ultimately, Trump.
Thus far, no formal accusations of “collusion” have been levied against anyone in the Trump campaign or the president himself.
At the same time, Hannity said that a “showdown” could be brewing with Rosenstein, against whom House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said on Sunday he will pursue with Articles of Impeachment, a House resolution compelling document production, or possible legal action if documents associated with the FBI’s Trump probe are not turned over.
Nunes had said that Rosenstein did not begin handing over the subpoenaed documents beginning on Monday and Tuesday of this week, he would take action on Wednesday and that it would “not be pretty.”
Some Republicans in Congress believe that Mueller’s probe is tainted because several investigators who played key roles were found to have exchanged anti-Trump text messages as they concluded their investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server and turned their attention to what would be called “Crossfire Hurricane.”
Nunes is specifically seeking documents associated with the FBI’s use of at least one informant apparently dispatched to gather information from Trump campaign associates.
Former Trump aide Michael Caputo and former Trump informal adviser and longtime friend Roger Stone recently amended their testimony in the Russia investigation to say that they recalled having been contacted by a Russian national, allegedly an FBI informant, who contacted them to say he had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton in May 2016. Both said they refused the “offer” of the individual, who reportedly has a criminal history and was in the U.S. under mysterious circumstances.
On Thursday’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Caputo told host Tucker Carlson that he believes the only reason the man was in the U.S. was to serve as an FBI informant.
On Wednesday, U.S. Senate candidate and former Maricopa County, AZ sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio circulated a press release in which he reported that FBI agents posed as journalists in order to capitalize on what they were led to believe was negative information to be coming out of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in advance of Arpaio’s 2000 re-election campaign for sheriff.
Arpaio urged the Justice Department to investigate Trump’s claims of “spying” on his campaign given Arpaio’s own revelation.