House Intel Chair Demands Report, Citing ‘Significant Evidence Of Collusion’
Reprinted with permission from Alternet.
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), feels that there is still “significant evidence of collusion” linking Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election to President Trump’s presidential campaign, even though the Justice Department has indicated that there will be no more indictments recommended in the Mueller investigation.
“There’s a difference between compelling evidence of collusion and whether the special counsel concludes that he can prove beyond a reasonable doubt the criminal charge of conspiracy,” said Schiff on ABC’s “This Week.” “As I’ve said before… I leave that decision to Bob Mueller, and I have full confidence in him.”
“I trust in his prosecutorial judgment,” Schiff added . “But that doesn’t mean, of course, that there isn’t compelling and incriminating evidence that should be shared with the American people.”
Schiff is pushing for the full release of the Mueller Report, and threatening to subpoena or even sue for its release.
“If the request [to release the report] is denied, subpoena, if the subpoenas are denied, we will haul people before congress, and yes, we will prosecute in court if necessary to get this information,” said Schiff, “And yes, you know I’ll say this, I think that Neal Katyal’s prognostication is correct. We will win that litigation.”
Katyal write an opinion piece for the Washington Post on Friday arguing that the attorney general should release the Mueller report. While serving as a lawyer at the Justice Department, Katyal had drafted regulations pertaining to the release of such reports in the late 1990s.
“Should Barr not provide the report to Congress, Congress will have to subpoena it, and Congress will almost certainly win that battle,” said Katyal. “The attorney general should follow Congress’ vote and honor the values at the core of our democracy, and release the report.”
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has made similar comments to Schiff’s today, including arguing that it may require a Supreme Court fight to force the release of the report.
View the exchange below:
