Posted on 07/19/2018 1:23:52 PM PDT by markomalley
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (Texas) blocked a resolution on Thursday that would have lent the Senate's support to the intelligence community's assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, which was offered up in the wake of President Trump’s Monday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Christopher Coons (D-Del.) tried to pass their resolution by unanimous consent, which requires the sign off of every senator.
But Cornyn objected, saying senators should focus on passing new sanctions legislation and warning that they should work through the committee process. "It is purely a symbolic act and what we need to do is ... do the hard work that senators have to do through the regular order," Cornyn said from the Senate floor.
He added that committees "ought to be permitted to call the witnesses and ask the hard questions and develop the record before we go on record as to a resolution like this."
The measure, introduced on Wednesday, would support the intelligence community's assessment of Russian election interference days after Trump voiced skepticism about Moscow's election interference.
Flake blasted Trump's rhetoric during the summit in Helsinki, Finland, calling it an "Orwellian moment."
"To reject these findings — and to reject the excruciatingly specific indictment against 12 named Russian operatives in deference to the word of a KGB apparatchik — is an act of will on the part of the president," Flake said.
He added that that the "choice now leaves us contemplating a dark mystery: Why did he do that? What would compel our president to do such a thing?"
"If ever there was a moment to think not of your party but of your country, this is it," Flake continued.
The resolution also commends the Justice Department for investigating Russia's election interference.
Trump has dismissed special counsel Robert Mueller's probe, which is also digging into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow, as a "witch hunt."
The resolution agrees with the intelligence community's findings that the Kremlin sought to influence the 2016 presidential election and that Russia should be held accountable; calls on the administration to fully implement the sanctions against Russia that Congress passed last year; and urges congressional oversight "including prompt hearings and the release of relevant note and information" so Congress can understand the Helsinki summit.
In addition to the Flake-Coons resolution, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked a separate resolution from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that also would have demanded Trump sit down with Mueller as part of his probe.
Trump sparked widespread backlash when he refused to condemn Russia's election meddling during the joint press conference with Putin on Monday. He tried to walk back his comments on Tuesday, saying he accepted the intelligence community's findings, but added that it could be "other people" as well.
Flake and Coons pledged after Cornyn blocked their resolution that they would try again to pass it in the future.
"We'll bring it back," Flake said. "I believe that this should pass, and I believe it ultimately will pass."
Can’t they send him on a time-out back to Aridzona for a few months?
Glad this resolution was blocked. Seems that there is a lot of info still to come out, on the performance of the “intelligence community” and whether it is deserving of trust and support.
Cornyn did something right for once. Doesn’t make up for his past actions though. Not one little bit.
Cornyn did this? My RINO senator did this?
Hmmm-mm-m ... somethings up. He is not up for re-election and he definitely is a swamp-creature ... hmmm-mm-m
Sadly given the fact that the biased Obama commissars Comey, Brennan and Clapper were in charge of those intelligence agencies. Also when considering what they did and continue to say and the fact that Obama commissars remain in key positions in those agencies, how can any rational President trust the “intelligence” he is receiving from them?
Can they just replace him now, unanimous consent. 8>)
I guess they could censure him.
That would probably be it.
Then he’s become more emboldened and act out.
Waiting for the media to go berserk over Cornyn not backing the IC.
Mommy, what does the "R" & "D" stand for?
Flake just ought to go out in a blaze of glory by officially becoming a Democrat.
Surprised Cornyn stepped up on this. Good on him.
Trump can declassify anything he wants. He also just got done talking to a very adept KGB agent (you don’t retire from the KGB. You die). He may have a Trump card or two to play now. Mosaad is the only other organization that rivals the KGB. Seems our agencies suck. They can’t even stop our uranium going to Russia. Sweat is running rampant in DC. Maybe we’ll see what’s behind the curtain.
Today’s world is full of surprises. SMH
Corncob, Texas’ error. OMG, Not as pitiful as Ariz., but we do elect some doozies!
Call this what it was. It was the “Trump committed treason”’resolution.
Did Russian tampering only balance DOJ tampering? Funny if Putin kept our DOJ in check.
Trump did not need Putin in order to doubt the intel community. He already doubted them.
Hell, he’s been publicly doubting their witch hunt and findings for his entire campaign and presidency.
Yeah I was joking about replacing him. It just can’t happen soon enough for him to leave his dim spotlight that he thinks shines brightly for him.
True.
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