Posted on 03/15/2017 1:30:45 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Up to now, Donald Trump has slammed Democrats for stalling the Senate on confirmations for his political appointees. He may need to add Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to his list — or perhaps pat him on the back. The Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee made a hardball play yesterday with FBI director James Comey and the Department of Justice, after weeks of frustration over the status of rumored probes of the previous election:
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley said Tuesday he will hold up the deputy attorney general’s confirmation vote as collateral until FBI Director James B. Comey briefs his panel about investigations into alleged ties between the Trump administration and Russian officials.
“I’m not going to schedule a hearing on the deputy attorney general until we get a briefing from Comey,” Grassley (R-Iowa) said Tuesday, even though, as he noted, “the Justice Department would like to get their deputy out of committee just as soon as they can.”
It’s been a month since Grassley and ranking member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) requested a briefing on all of the election-related probes at the FBI. Grassley says he’ll take a closed-door or public briefing, whichever Comey and the DoJ believe is appropriate, as long as the committee gets a briefing. So far, though, all Comey has said in response is that he’s still waiting to hear whether he’s cleared to release any information, which is not much of an answer.
This does have a Catch-22 quality to it, however. The nomination that Grassley has put under deep freeze is that of Rod Rosenstein, nominated for deputy Attorney General — a very important post under normal conditions, and more important now because of the issues under investigation with Russia and the election. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has already committed to recusing himself on all matters relating to potential investigations of those matters, presumably including what to clear for Comey to discuss. The man who will make those decisions is … Rod Rosenstein, once he’s confirmed. Right now acting deputy AG Dana Boente is presumably making those decisions, but that’s a tough call for a temporary executive to make. It’s not difficult to imagine that the question of clearance is getting bounced around the careerists at DoJ, all of whom might worry about their own prospects if the “wrong” choice gets made.
Normally, one wouldn’t expect to see this kind of a power play from a Senate under control of the same party as the White House. Depending on circumstances, however, Grassley might be doing Trump a favor. If there’s really nothing to the allegations of collusion — and media reports have never produced anything that suggests otherwise — then having the FBI director tell that to the Judiciary Committee would be very helpful to the White House.
At least one Democrat thinks the answer will come today. CNN’s Manu Raju told Anderson Cooper that Sheldon Whitehouse got a promise from Comey that he would confirm by today whether any investigation exists, and what the FBI intends to pursue (via Matt Vespa):
Senator: Comey to go public on Trump-Russia probe https://t.co/YZ32bCBsdM @mkraju has more. https://t.co/PCeRjYuex5
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) March 15, 2017
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said Tuesday that FBI Director James Comey promised to tell him Wednesday whether the FBI is investigating ties between Russia and the campaign of President Donald Trump.
The Rhode Island Democrat said that Comey made the promise in a March 2 meeting with him and Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina.
According to Whitehouse, Comey assured them he would confirm if an investigation exists “and the scope of their Russia/Trump investigation because he had not been able to at that point say that there was one.”
Democrats had better not be expecting another Fitzmas. Lindsey Graham says he’ll make today’s hearing on other Russian activities “tough” on Comey if they don’t get an answer before it begins, but maybe Republicans shouldn’t hold their breath on that either.
Update: Looks like Grassley got what he wanted:
“I’ve been told that I’ll have a briefing this afternoon,” Grassley told reporters when asked about reports that Comey was expected to clarify any investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia by Wednesday.
Grassley added that he hadn’t heard about the Wednesday deadline.
Asked if she was getting a briefing with Grassley on Russia later Wednesday, Feinstein—the committee’s top Democrat—told reporters “yeah, we’re supposed to get a briefing.”
Today’s briefing to the Judiciary leadership will be behind closed doors, but Comey will testify publicly on Monday to the House Intelligence Committee. Mark your calendars, and bring the popcorn.
So the GOPe traitors hold up Rod Rosenstein’s confirmation so an Obama can stay in charge of the Russian crap. Rosenstein would not commit to a special prosecutor so Grassly pulls this BS. As if Comey is emotional invested in getting a confirmation vote. Thanks again for recusing Sessions.
Good fn grief.
Make that Obams holdovers.
What the HELL is Grassly thinking???
“What the HELL is Grassly thinking?”
He’s thinking Obongo ‘s holdover will go ahead and call for a Special Prosecutor and keep the Russia crap in the news for the next year keep Trump crippled by it. Comey can drag his feet and drag the confer vote for weeks
As if Comey cares about the Deputy AG nomination? Did Grassley eat the fish for lunch?
They better watch their step. Two can play that game, and they will lose.
So now Grassley just handed Comey the power to stall the confirmation. As if Comey cares if it ever happens. Anyone still doubt Trump is hated by his own party? All . And l don’t see how Grassley un-does this even if we flood his phone lines. Bastards.
Trump should call the entire Pub leadership into the White House and tell them if they don't get off the dime he will start a public outcry. I know Trump wants his healthcare and tax bills passed, but this crap is way too much.
Watch Comey dog-talk Trump to Congress and not one of them will point out the FISA warrants or the actual surveillance versus the 'tapping' generalization.
Sounds a bit like extortion.
It’s only extortion if the person gives a damn about what you’re holding Comey does not give a crap if the vote ever comes and Galrassley knows it.
that sounds possibly plausible. maybe comey is not playing ball with the new boss. the new boss is not the same as the old boss. the new boss cannot squeeze comey directly.
however, the new boss can squeeze comey indirectly. if comey refuses to brief congress, he delivers to trump a way to ask for comey’s resignation in public. then comey would have a big credibility problem, and would either have to resign or have congress remove him. so, the strategy is, or seems to be, to herd comey into a box canyon with a hearing.
Today was supposed to be the day he testified. What happened?
I missed where in the Constitution it says that the assistant AG needs Senate confirmation.
TRUMP had better stop effing around with these degenerate scumbags and start channeling Pinochet.
Times a wasting.
is anyone else thinking what i am thinking...
grim and silent...
FBI chief Comey asserting power like no one in history
The New York Post ^ | March 7, 2017 | Michael Goodwin
Posted on 3/8/2017, 5:16:32 PM by 2ndDivisionVet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3532882/posts
Trump needs to tell them that, if they do not support him, he will run candidates against both parties in the 2018 elections.
I wasn’t looking at it being extortion of Comey. I think Comey is part of it. How about we just say a conspiracy between all of them to destroy the USA?
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