The second-ranking U.S. Senate Democrat called Monday for an independent commission as well as a special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference in the U.S. election, according to Bloomberg.
Minority Whip Dick Durbin, back from a trip to Ukraine and other countries he said were worried about Russia, told Bloomberg editors and reporters in New York Monday that an ongoing investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee isn`t sufficient, Bloomberg reported.
”It has to reach a point where we have public sentiment strong enough that we launch an independent, transparent investigation of what the Russians did to us,” the Illinois Democrat said.
President Donald Trump, asked Monday by reporters whether there should be a special prosecutor on Russia, mouthed the word ”no” to a group of health-care executives at a White House meeting with him.
”I haven`t called Russia in 10 years,” the president said.
In 2013, Trump traveled to Russia for the Miss Universe pageant that he owned, and months earlier he speculated on Twitter about whether Putin might attend and ”become my new best friend.” During the trip he also met with more than a dozen of Russia`s top businessmen.
See also: Trump`s key quotes on Ukraine and Russian agression (tweets, videos, links)
Former President Barack Obama in December imposed sanctions on top Russian intelligence officials and agencies in retaliation for cyberattacks aimed at interfering with the 2016 election campaign. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia was behind the pilfering and release of e-mails to damage the campaign of Hillary Clinton.
Durbin said U.S. allies are asking about Russian influence in the election, adding that one Polish leader in Warsaw told him, ”If you don`t take Russia`s invasion into your election seriously, how will you take Putin`s invasion into Poland? Will you take that seriously?”
Durbin said former Secretary of State Colin Powell, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O`Connor or others like them could lead such a commission and get answers.
See also: “When Russia hack U.S. election it’s an act of war” – McCain in Kyiv
The Intelligence Committee, which is conducting the major bipartisan congressional probe into the issue at this point, isn`t built for public transparency, said Durbin, a former member of the committee.
He said he`s worried about a potential coverup by the White House.
”The downfall does not come from the crime, it comes from the coverup, and that`s what we`re dealing with now. We need to know if anyone in the Trump campaign had any direct conversations with someone from Russia,” Durbin said.
Durbin said he isn`t personally aware of such contacts.
”It`s hard to imagine how some of these leaks could have been so conveniently timed if there wasn`t coordination,” he said.
In Washington, Representative Devin Nunes of California, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, continued Monday to reject calls for a special prosecutor. But he said his committee is finalizing an expansion of its own inquiry into claims of Russian tampering in the election, and of possible Trump campaign contacts with Russians.
”As of right now, we have no evidence,” said Nunes, of reports that that three individuals had contacts with Russian agents.
”We will continue to ask for evidence, look for evidence. Not only on the three Americans who are named in that story – but also any other American that had any contacts with Russians,” he said.
But ”we can`t have McCarthyism back in this country,” he added.
”We can`t have the government, the U.S. government – the Congress, the legislative branch of government – chasing down American citizens, hauling them before the Congress as if they are some secret Russian agents.”
Officials in Eastern Europe, meanwhile, told Durbin they are engaged in a ”hybrid war” with Vladimir Putin`s Russia – on military, cyber and propaganda fronts – including interference in their elections.
”They live with it, it`s part of their political scene,” Durbin said. ”They look at the United States and say, this great power for democracy is going to stand by and let Putin make a mockery, try to make a mockery of your election?” he said. ”And it leaves them, you know, struggling to understand.”
The Senate Intelligence Committee`s investigation was questioned following a Washington Post report Friday that panel Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina called reporters at White House behest to try to knock down stories about contacts between Russia and Trump associates.
See also: U.S. Intelligence: Russia`s spreading fake news ”beyond propaganda”
The intelligence panel`s top Democrat, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, said he expressed ”grave concern” to Burr that such actions may harm the independence of the investigation.
”I will not accept any process that is undermined by political interference,” Warner said.
Durbin said he`d like to see a special prosecutor, but noted that Attorney General Jeff Sessions – one of Donald Trump`s top campaign surrogates last year – would have to make the appointment. Sessions also has the power to stop or slow down FBI investigations, the senator said.
Durbin said he hopes FBI Director Jim Comey goes forward with an investigation, but isn`t sure he trusts him after Comey`s extraordinary decision to announce he was probing e-mails on Anthony Weiner`s laptop a week and a half before the election, which many Democrats blame for Hillary Clinton`s defeat.
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