Chuck Grassley's Alternative Trump-Russia Investigation. In this one, the president is the victim.

[Miles Archer]

How a Top Senate Republican Is Creating an Alternative Trump-Russia Investigation
In this one, the president is the victim.
DAN FRIEDMAN JUL. 18, 2017 7:23 AM



http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/07/how-chuck-grassley-is-creating-an-alternative-trump-russia-investigation/

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week on Christopher Wray’s nomination to head the FBI, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) quickly brought up President Donald Trump’s firing of former FBI Director James Comey. But the committee chairman didn’t fault Trump for Comey’s dismissal. Rather, Grassley defended Trump’s right to let him go. “There are no restrictions on the ability of any president to fire any director,” he said in his opening statement.

Grassley’s comment was significant because he heads what could wind up being the most consequential of the congressional investigations related to the Trump-Russia scandal: a probe of Trump’s firing of Comey and collusion between the Trump camp and Russia. The inquiry presumably will examine whether the president obstructed justice by axing the official leading the FBI’s investigation of interactions between the Trump camp and Russia and its related probe of Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser. The House and Senate intelligence committees are examining various aspects of the Trump-Russia controversy, and the FBI’s investigation is now proceeding under the leadership of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who may also be examining Trump’s dumping of Comey.

But the Judiciary Committee, unlike these other outfits, operates mostly in public, and, more important, it can actively pursue the case of Comey’s firing—and Trump’s possible obstruction of justice—whether or not that episode involved any violations of the law.

The intensity and extent of the committee’s investigation of the Comey firing and other aspects of the Russia scandal depend on Grassley. And so far it looks like the 83-year-old Iowan is more interested in developing a counter-narrative to the Trump-Russia storyline by conducting a series of alternative investigations into tangential subjects. These inquiries seem designed to minimize the culpability of Trump and his aides and to deflect attention from the core issues of the controversy.

[Mr. Ected]

1. This isn't politics. It's co-conspiracy.

And it will visit upon the Republican Party in a way that no one will be able to fathom.

Grassley is either looking out for his own ass or covering for his colleagues who are on the Russian dole.

[CakeGrrl]

2. So that stricken look on Grassley's face after the Senate briefing

standing next to DiFi was probably "Geez, this is going to take a lot of work to whitewash and obstruct".

The real question: What does Russia have on him? THIS is what he wants to continue to do at age 83?

[Chasstev365]

3. Who in the GOP was in on the Russian Conspiracy?

Here are my "no doubt in my mind" picks:

1. McConnell Sen
2 Ryan House
3. Grassley Sen
4. Nunez House
5. Rohrbacker House
6. McCarthy House
7. Cornyn Sen

[ProudLib72]

4. Ummm Sessions?

Which is why he was placed as AG, to cover for the others. Now that he has recused himself, it's up to people like Chuck "Snake in The" Grassley to do the job.

[Chasstev365]

5. Of Course; I meant in Congress now.