Posted on 05/04/2017 7:16:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Susan Rice, President Barack Obama's former national security adviser, on Wednesday declined Sen. Lindsey Graham's request to participate in a judiciary subcommittee hearing next week on Russian interference in the US election, CNN has learned.
A letter obtained exclusively by CNN from Rice's lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, outlines the grounds for her decision not to appear. It was addressed to Graham, the Republican chairman of the judiciary subcommittee on crime and terrorism, which is holding the hearing, and senior Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.
"Senator Whitehouse has informed us by letter that he did not agree to Chairman Graham's invitation to Ambassador Rice, a significant departure from the bipartisan invitations extended to other witnesses," Ruemmler wrote. "Under these circumstances, Ambassador Rice respectfully declines Senator Graham's invitation to testify."
A source familiar with Rice's discussions told CNN that when Graham invited her, Rice believed it was a bipartisan overture and was prepared to accept.
However, Whitehouse indicated to her that the invitation was made without his agreement, as he believed her presence was not relevant to the topic of the hearing, according to the source.
Rice considered the invitation a "diversionary play" to distract attention from the investigation into Russian election interference, including contacts between Trump allies and Russians during the campaign, the source said.
Whitehouse told CNN that "with the exception of that invitation, Senator Graham and I have agreed on all witnesses that have been invited to this hearing."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Hope she is the scape goat used for a teaching moment and prosecute her arrogant butt for something, anything
Don’t try to frame it as a “request”, Susan.
And declining may not be an option when the next call to testify comes.
You should know, there are consequences for lying once you are put under oath. Certain authorities tend to take these things seriously.
Subpoena Rice!
Why would she decline???
Since the liberals are all over this story of Russian hacking and all that, shouldn’t be she eager, as a good Democrat, to testify about everything she knows????
What the heck???
Trump needs to replace the FBI director. Rice needs to be formally charged.
Invite her with a subpoena.
Someone needs to obtain a copy of Sen Whitehouse’s letter and make an issue of his attempt to block inquiry on the unmasking scandal
She’ll just take the 5th no doubt.
Wise decision Susan. Raising your right hand just before you begin testifying on topics where self preservation demands that you repeatedly lie is never good practice.
Yes subpoena Rice, let her take the 5th to cover her lies and corruption. Fire Comey-despite multiple chances to get it right he still refuses to support/ investigate the law and provides cover for bammy, lynch, holder, rice, wiener, hellary, huma, and a host of other dirty corrupt demonrats. Why have a crook heading FBI?
WOW! Susan Rice missing out on a big opportunity to tell us all how the Russians interfered with our election and helped Donald Trump win. I cannot believe she would let this big opportunity pass by. Just amazing.
Its so much better to simply get the "truth" out via CNN.
The Dems are hoping and pushing for a special prosecutor, which won’t happen. What they should do is get Susan RIce to testify.
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