Jonathan S. Tobin:
Maybe some in the White House thought making former general Michael Flynn walk the plank would end speculation about possible collusion between Donald Trump’s campaign and the Russians. But two weeks after Flynn was forced out of his post as National Security Adviser, the debate isn’t so much about whether an investigation will take place, but about how far they will go and whether a special prosecutor will eventually be named.
The latest claims about Attorney General Jeff Sessions meeting with the Russian ambassador have given new life to the story, prompting another round of reasonable questions about his comments and possible recusal from any investigation as well as more unsubstantiated speculation about a conspiracy.
With even Republicans covering themselves with statements about wanting to get to the bottom of the case, Democrats are confident of support for Congressional probes. They are even sending the FBI not-so-subtle warnings that their work will be scrutinized if they are perceived as going soft on Trump.
But as eager as they may be to take a deep dive into alleged ties between the GOP campaign and the Putin regime, they also need to worry about whether this could become their own Benghazi obsession: an issue that plays to their base, but will lead to neither prosecutions nor political profit.
Is There Evidence Trump Colluded With The Russians?
The Russian connection could be a gift that will keep on giving to the Democrats. That’s why figures like House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff are not holding back as they seek to discover whether the Trump campaign was in bed with the Russians, or helping Vladimir Putin influence or even steal the presidential election from Hillary Clinton. Schiff felt himself on firm ground yesterday as he made it clear in a press conference that until he is presented with evidence to the contrary, he saw no reason not to assume the worst.
His remarks were a striking contrast to those of Republican committee chair Rep. Devin Nunes, who said his briefings by the intelligence community had made it clear there was no evidence of communication between the Trump campaign and Moscow. In the absence of any proof of wrongdoing, Nunes worried about creating a spectacle in which people would be hauled into a hearing room and asked to deny that they were part of a Russian conspiracy. He felt his committee was being sucked into a black hole of innuendo that—despite the appearance of impropriety, if not illegal conduct, that Flynn’s communications with the Russian ambassador seemed to create—was unlikely to lead to anything of substance.
Liberals may think Nunes is a cornered Republican, blowing smoke as he tries to avoid antagonizing the White House and the GOP base. But just as many conservatives believed the events of September 11, 2012 in Libya were the product of willful malfeasance on the part of the Obama administration and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, liberal conviction that they are on the trail of treason and proof that the election was really stolen is likely to be equally misplaced.
Democrats Could Repeat Republicans’ Mistakes
There are clear differences between the Russian investigation and Benghazi. One is that while Republicans are not taking a hard line opposing an investigation, Democrats always treated the Benghazi investigation as nothing but a political witch-hunt. That stark partisan divide defined public discourse throughout the investigation, and ensured there could never be any consensus no matter what was discovered.
But there are also similarities. Democrats point to Flynn’s discussions with the Russian ambassador and other alleged contacts within the Trump campaign as prima facie proof that something untoward was afoot. Flynn’s lies to Vice President Pence about those conversations make them seem suspicious—in much the same way Susan Rice’s lies to the media about Benghazi convinced the GOP there was more to the scandal than met the eye. But the mere fact that an incoming national security adviser would talk to the Russians isn’t a big deal. Nor is it illegal, let alone treason.
The same can be said of any of the other alleged contacts that the New York Times reported earlier this month. Moreover, Republicans know that the key sentence in that lengthy and much discussed piece was the one which revealed the intelligence community that leaked the story had not found any reason to believe there was collusion between the Trump camp and the Russians. Nor has Nunes heard anything that contradicts that conclusion.
Democrats Want To Keep Alive The ‘Fixed Election’ Story
By contrast, Schiff—like the Republicans who were sure there was something illegal behind Susan Rice’s lies—thinks they’ll find something Trump and company did wrong if only they look hard enough. His indignant claim that Nunes was wrong about the evidence seemed to rest on the assumption that Trump is guilty until proved innocent.
Democratic fantasies about smoking guns might come true. But if there were such proof, then surely the content of the Russian surveillance tapes would have provided the leakers with more than they gave the Times.
There is a stark difference between these two examples. There was a grievous act of omission which not only got 4 brave Americans killed but did serious damage to national security by providing a valuable propaganda windfall to terrorists. There was ample evidence of incompetence of leadership up to the highest levels of our government.
That investigation should have been cut and dried and over quickly. Obama’s campaign ambitions led to bad decisions which left a consulate vulnerable and resulted in terrorist victory over the greatest and most powerful force on earth… terrorists that supposedly didn’t exist. But, administration stonewalling and lies dragged the investigations and hearings out far too long… long past the time when the truth was known.
THIS pursuit is noting but an attack with intent to erode and destroy. These Sessions statements are clearly and obviously NOT lies or perjury; they are answers to specific questions which the compliant media conceals the context of. Clearly Sessions was not asked if he had ever spoken with a Russian and only a fool would honestly assume that’s what he meant.
Democrats don’t want to “get to the bottom” of anything. They want destruction, even if it destroys themselves. Only they can profit from widespread destruction IF they survive… everyone else simply just gets hurt. Real bad. But, they don’t care about anything but their own power.
THIS is what will be revealed of the Democrats and I hope the lesson is learned well.
The Democrats showed their true colors at Trumps state of the union speech, Even to MSM polls showed 18-21% of the Democrats approved of Trumps vision and direction. Those voters want the Democrats to work with the Republicans to implement Trumps vision and stop the ignorant attacks and riots. I guess it will take the loss of the 8 Red State Dem senators in 2018 for the Democrat party to understand they are out of gas and running on empty.
I do not think that the Democrats realize that if Trump is pushed too far, he can indict Clinton and Obama. It is clear that Obama has violated many laws to keep funding Obama care Trump has destroyed enemies in his business. If trump is left with no alternatives, he ay just strike out at these stupid lefties.
@Randy: Their ultimate goal is to overturn the election. Their ultimate mistake will be assuming everyone else will sit back and let them get away with it.
I hope the demacrats have their waterloo coming right to their doors
the Nazi liberal media is not defining any counter attempts by conservatives-big mistake. when the monies run out the demonstrations will stop.
The obama administration is guilty of espionage against the American people. obama used the instrumentalities of the intelligence branches not to seek information from foreign adversaries, but from the American people.
obama and many of his former administration are guilty of sedition while in office and are no engaged in a silent coup.
obama has his fingerprints all over this. He should be imprisoned for life.
Surely President Trump has dealt with organized crime, during his career of building in big cities, esp. NY. He needs to look at them as the Democratic “Mob” and deal with it. He did say he was going after the “Cartels.” As Bannon said, they won’t let go of the strangle hold on this country without a fight. A paraphrase.