House Intel Dem hits GOP for ending Russia Investigation

House Intelligence Committee member Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) criticized Republicans for ending their investigation into possible Russian collusion during the 2016 elections.

Republicans’ choice to finish interviewing witnesses for their investigation leaves the country open to future foreign interference, Swalwell said in a statement.

“The Republicans’ decision to shut down the House Intelligence Committee’s Russia investigation sends a bright green light to Russia to continue its interference at America’s ballot boxes,” he said.

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“Over the past year, Republicans have repeated to anyone who will listen, ‘There’s no collusion.’ But a review of the Committee’s witness transcripts will show the Republicans were never looking for collusion,” he added.

The witnesses Republicans interviewed, Swalwell argued, could refuse to answer questions because they weren’t under subpoena.

“Furthermore, witnesses testified in a ‘take them at their word’ investigation, where not a single claim was verified by third-party subpoenas of communications records, bank records, travel logs, or other documents to corroborate or contradict a witness account,” he said.

Swalwell stressed the need for an “independent, bipartisan-appointed commission” to carry out an in-depth investigation into Russian interference in 2016.

With the interview phase of the investigation over, the committee is expected to produce a report summarizing its findings.

However, relations between Democrats and Republicans on the panel have deteriorated and the parties are expected to draft separate reports.

Democrats will have access to a draft of the Republican-written report, which argues that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, on Tuesday.

The Senate Intelligence Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee and special counsel Robert Mueller have separate ongoing investigations into Russian meddling and possible collusion during the 2016 election.