Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 22 May 2017

Congressional panels pledge thorough probe into Comey firing

HOPE YEN “The president feels as
Associated Press if he is hamstrung in his
WASHINGTON (AP) — ability to work with Rus-
Members of key con- sia to find areas of coop-
gressional committees eration because this has
pledged Sunday to been obviously so much
proceed with aggres- in the news,” said Mc-
sive investigations into Master, who was present
Russia’s meddling in the at the meeting.
U.S. election and any Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
ties with the Trump cam- a member of the intel-
paign, saying the Ameri- ligence committee,
can people need a full said she also plans to
airing as to why former press Comey regarding
FBI director James Com- what was discussed with
ey was ousted. Trump about Flynn and
Comey was fired by whether he was asked
President Donald Trump by Trump to alter the FBI
earlier this month. The investigation. The Cali-
former director agreed fornia Democrat said
to testify before the Sen- public hearings should
ate intelligence commit- ferret out what has been
tee after the Memorial Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 17, a flurry of apparently
Day holiday. 2017. Associated Press contradictory com-
Republican Sen. Marco ments by many of the
Rubio of Florida, a mem- parties involved.
ber of that committee, no doubt that that’s the Flynn. “thorough investigation “I really think that rath-
said he wants to press questions that are going Chaffetz said he expects will confirm that there er than have all these
Comey as to whether he to get asked, and asked to speak with Comey was no collusion be- memorandums and is-
ever believed the White repeatedly.” on Monday and that if tween the campaign sues circulating around,
House was interfering Rubio said White House there are any notes of and any foreign entity.” that we need to put the
with his work, in light of officials had told him White House meetings, It has not denied the facts before the Ameri-
a spate of news reports they had no transcripts “we’re certainly pursu- Times report that Trump can people,” she said.
that Comey had kept nor notes of Trump’s ing them.” was critical of Comey “Did the president fire
detailed records of his meeting with Russian of- “There have been so to the Russians the day Comey because of his
interactions with Trump. ficials but “apparently many lies, so many con- after he fired him. But investigation and was
The New York Times and someone has discussed tradictions,” Cummings White House spokesman he worried about what
other news outlets re- them, or leaked them.” said, adding that he ex- Sean Spicer has called the investigation might
ported last week on a “This cloud is impacting pects parallel investiga- the president’s rhetoric conclude? If so, that
Comey memo indicat- everything else,” Rubio tions from Congress to part of his deal-making, borders on a very serious
ing Trump had urged said, describing a num- proceed fully after the contending that Comey charge.”
him to drop an investiga- ber of questions, such as Justice Department last had created “unneces- “And it’s got to come
tion into former national possible obstruction of week appointed former sary pressure” on Trump’s from Director Comey
security adviser Michael justice, that are hanging FBI director Robert Muel- ability to negotiate with himself,” Feinstein said.
Flynn. Separately, an- over the White House. ler as special counsel Russia on a range of is- Rubio appeared on
other Times report said “So, we need to get over to head an investiga- sues. CNN’s “State of the
Trump had told Russian this once and for all.” tion into possible Russian White House national Union” and CBS’ “Face
officials in a closed-door Leaders of the House coordination with the security adviser H.R. the Nation,” Feinstein
meeting at the Oval Of- oversight committee, Trump campaign dur- McMaster underscored also was on CBS’ “Face
fice that firing Comey Republican Rep. Jason ing the 2016 presidential that point in an inter- the Nation,” and Chaf-
“had relieved great Chaffetz of Utah and election. view that aired Sunday, fetz, Cummings and Mc-
pressure on him.” Democrat Rep. Elijah Referring to the whole saying Trump had felt Master spoke on ABC’s
“Did he keep these Cummings of Maryland, sequence of events “hamstrung.” “This Week.”q
memos? What do those said they would de- leading to Comey’s fir-
memos say? And why mand Comey’s notes. ing, Cummings added:
did he write it? And how Cummings also is urg- “I think that there may
did he feel? Did he ever ing Chaffetz, who is re- be quite a few people
feel like he was being signing from his job next that may have some
put in a position where month, to subpoena problems with the law.”
he couldn’t do his job?” the White House for any The White House has re-
Rubio asked. “There’s documents relating to peatedly insisted that a