Some Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee are threatening to pull support from the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election if it is not conducted in a “legitimate” manner.
“I’m not going to be part of a dog-and-pony show that is not a serious effort to do an investigation, because this is really serious,” said Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), according to The New York Times.
“If it’s not a legitimate and comprehensive and in-depth investigation, why would we be party to it?” she added.
“Most of us would agree that there’s no way we’re participating in any form of cover-up or whitewash, so we will walk away if the moment requires,” said Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) while adding that “we’re certainly not there yet.”
{mosads}The Democrats are reportedly fearful that the committee probe could become heavily entangled in party politics, preventing any substantive investigation from taking place.
The chairman of the committee, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), has often been publicly critical of the allegations that President Trump’s associates were in contact with Russian government officials.
The Democrats, however, maintain that Nunes has not yet given them a reason to abandon the probe.
The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.), echoed the sentiment of his colleagues, maintaining that the Democrats will raise objections if they are “walled off” from conducting a legitimate investigation in the future.
“If we get to the point at any time where I feel we can’t do that, where there are legitimate lines of investigation that are being walled off, then I will say so,” Schiff said, according to the Times.
The House Intelligence Committee is slated to hold its first Russia-related hearing on March 20.