Trump-Russia news: President denounces Democrat investigations as his attorney general pick passes key Senate vote
Just days after Donald Trump criticised congressional Democrats for “ridiculous partisan investigations”, the president is facing a renewed Russia inquiry from Congress that has left him complaining about presidential harassment.
The president said as much in response to the announcement that Democrats in the House Intelligence Committee have re-opened their probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, marking yet another official investigation into the issue that has dogged the White House for more than two years.
“So now Congressman Adam Schiff announces, after having found zero Russian Collusion, that he is going to be looking at every aspect of my life, both financial and personal, even though there is no reason to be doing so,” Mr Trump tweeted on Thursday morning.
He continued: “Never happened before! Unlimited Presidential Harassment … The Dems and their committees are going ‘nuts.’ The Republicans never did this to President Obama, there would be no time left to run government. I hear other committee heads will do the same thing. Even stealing people who work at White House! A continuation of Witch Hunt!”
Democrats have indicated they plan on using their newly acquired congressional subpoena power to delve into Mr Trump’s political and personal world in a way that Republicans who previously controlled the committee before losing control of the chamber in the 2018 midterms shied away from.
The investigation will “allow us to investigate any credible allegation that financial interests or other interests are driving decision-making of the President or anyone in the administration”, Mr Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said, announcing the new probe.
Representative Jerry Nadler, the House Judiciary Committee chairman, meanwhile warned that his committee is considering forming acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to answer questions during testimony, and not just cite executive privilege.
Read this full report on the events of the day and week, here, or take a look below for our updates as they were posted, below
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