Posted on 05/14/2017 6:58:16 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" that he would support an effort by Senate Democrats to refuse a vote on President Trump's nominee to be the new director of the FBI if a special prosecutor is not named to investigate Russian involvement in the 2017 campaign.
The notion that Democrats might refuse to vote on any nominee put forward by Trump to be the bureau’s director was first floated last week by a handful of lawmakers including Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Schumer, who spoke Sunday morning to CNN’s “State of the Union,” is the highest-profile Democrat to back such a plan.
“Yes, I think there are a lot of Democrats who feel that way,” Schumer told host Jake Tapper when asked whether he would support a move to block any potential FBI director until an independent investigator is named. “We will have to discuss it as a caucus, but I would support that move, because who the FBI director is, is related to who the special prosecutor is.”
The president’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey last week raised eyebrows from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, especially given the FBI’s ongoing investigation into Trump’s campaign. The president did little to calm concerns about Comey’s dismissal when he told NBC News in an interview that he weighed the Russia investigation, which he called a “made-up story,” as he made up his mind to fire the FBI director.
As the Senate’s minority party, Democrats would have little power to truly block a new FBI director, whose nomination would need only a simple majority to clear the bar of confirmation. But a partisan battle over the head of the FBI would be new territory for the Senate, which typically confirms the bureau’s director with essentially universal bipartisan support. (Comey was confirmed by a vote of 93-1 in 2013.)
Schumer predicted that the plan would enjoy “broad support” among Senate Democrats, as well as among the American people.
Democrats sure have fallen in love with special prosecutors, haven't they? The IRS can target conservatives for special treatment, but we trusted the Democratic Justice Department to thoroughly and fairly investigate that, right? Ditto for Fast and Furious, Benghazi, Hillary's emails, and any one of a half dozen more instances of abuse of power, unconstitutional actions, or illegal activities carried out by the Obama administration. We didn't need a special prosecutor for any of those, said Democrats at the time.
Now, suddenly (!) we need a special prosecutor for...sorry, but I've lost track. How many "special prosecutors" have the Democrats called for in the first four months of the Trump administration?
He’da made a fine sea captain.. he’s eager to go down with the ship.
Hey, Chuckie, you only say that to your bases, because after the Memorial Day recess appointment, you’ll go “AW, WELL WE TRIED!”
MINORITY Leader should not dictate to the MAJORITY
Get ‘em
Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) is up next year, and North Dakota is neither California nor New York. Hang her obstruction on her neck!
They really want to drag all this misdirection vaudeville sh@& out for 4 years. Worthless bastards.
Trump was elected, and suddenly Chuck decided he runs everything.
He needs a very demeaning, embarrassing comeuppance.
As the Senate’s minority party, Democrats would have little power to truly block a new FBI director, whose nomination would need only a simple majority to clear the bar of confirmation.
F. U. Chuck. You aren’t holding any cards.
Can’t this be overcome by appointing the preferred candidate as interim head and letting him get on with the job until Congress is feeling more reasonable?
Shut up, Chuckie!
Under the Harry Reid changes, i did not think that the senate needed 60% to approve a position like the FBI. Is that true>
Other than yelling and feverish delays, it had to be called to vote.
Is Rudi available I wonder?
I thought Trump could appoint a temporary acting head of the FBI any time he wants. Then he can put a new permanent head up for a vote in the Senate.
I’m surprised he hasn’t done that. But maybe he wanted an outrageous threat from Chuckie Boy first.
Time for old Bitch McConnell to dust off his “nuclear option again.” It’s funny, the RATs are forcing him to develop a backbone. There’s just no way that the Pubbies are going to let Chuckie Schmuckie Schumer to call the tune. And each time he tries and gets his legs cut off, he diminishes himself within his own party. MAGA
Oh, really? And what if McCabe is suddenly arrested?
I don’t think the RATS realize open season on them just began. They sure don’t act like it.
Gee, i wish McConnell would grow a spine...
As expected. Meanwhile the Rat operative McCabe will continue to run the FBI. So while it gets jammed up that punk stays there. 3 rino traitors is all it will take to pull this off. I can think of half a dozen suspects.
Schmucky has no power and should have it shoved down his throat the way Barney Frank would do it.
Fine. Trump can choose a interim director and let him stay on. No big deal.
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