U.S. House Republicans say probe found no evidence of collusion between Trump, Russia

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U.S. House Republicans say probe found no evidence of collusion between Trump, Russia

By Patricia Zengerle

 

FILE PHOTO: Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) asks questions as executives appear before the House Intelligence Committee to answer questions related to Russian use of social media to influence U.S. elections, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Intelligence Committee Republicans said on Monday the panel had finished conducting interviews in its investigation of Russia and the 2016 U.S. election, and found no collusion between President Donald Trump's associates and Moscow's efforts to influence the campaign.

 

"We have found no evidence of collusion, coordination, or conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russians," committee Republicans said as they released an overview of their probe.

 

Representative Mike Conaway, who has led the panel's investigation, said the panel had finished the interview phase of its probe.

 

"You never know what you never know, but we found no reason to think that there's something we're missing in this regard. We've talked to everybody we think we need to talk to," Conaway said in an interview on Fox News Channel.

 

Committee Democrats had no immediate response to the announcement, which was expected. Panel Republicans have been saying for weeks they were near the end of the interview phase of the probe.

 

Reflecting a deep partisan divide on the House of Representatives panel, Democrats have been arguing that the probe is far from over.

Representative Adam Schiff, the panel's ranking Democrat, said last week that there were dozens more witnesses who should be called before the panel, and many more documents that should be subpoenaed.

 

Russia denies meddling.

 

Democrats have accused Republicans on the committee of shirking the investigation in order to protect Trump and his associates, some of whom have pleaded guilty to charges including lying to investigators and conspiring against the United States.

 

Trump has repeatedly denied collusion between his associates and Russia.

 

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-13

[samran]

So sad. The GOP, once the strongest of Cold War warriors who held the line for democracy and free markets, are now Vlads political handmaidens spruiking Hugo Chavez economic policy. 

[FritsSikkink]

Pathetic but not a problem. Mueller will sort it.

[Boon Mee]

There never was collusion etc to begin with so it's impossible to prove a negative. 

[samran]

43 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

There never was collusion etc to begin with so it's impossible to prove a negative. 

Collusion vs greatfully received foreign interference (with full tacit knowledge)

 

It will be shown one way or another. 

[rudi49jr]

56 minutes ago, samran said:

So sad. The GOP, once the strongest of Cold War warriors who held the line for democracy and free markets, are now Vlads political handmaidens spruiking Hugo Chavez economic policy. 

Let me correct that for you: the GOP,  always having been the strongest supporter of the industry-military complex, not giving a damn about democracy and just wanting to fill their pockets with the money of whoever is willing to pay them. And now you have someone in the WH who doesn't give a damn about anything but himself, his giant ego and his bank account, and who wants to be the best of friends with Putin, Duterte and the fat little guy in North Korea. How much better get it get? Jesus wept.

[attrayant]

Conclusion reached without interviewing Manafort, Papadopolous or Flynn!  How did they reach this conclusion, by Ouija board or crystal ball?

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  

[Berkshire]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

There never was collusion etc to begin with so it's impossible to prove a negative. 

Corrupt Trump minion Nunes et al can't be relied upon to get to the truth.  But no worries, Mr. Mueller will get to the bottom of it. 

[Silurian]

The House investigation was never going to go anywhere with that Nunes clown subverting any attempt by the democrats to actually make it an actual investigation. Democrats were never allowed to subpoena anyone and were consistently shutdown when attempting to control the interviews. It is probably a good thing that this joke of the House investigation is closing down. It was beyond worthless and was being used by the Republicans as political leverage to attempt to subvert not only their own investigation but the senate and Mueller's as well. Good riddance to a poorly run show.

 

Hopefully these republicans clowns will get trounced in the midterms and the democrats will take the House. Then maybe there will be a House that puts country ahead of party.

 

Edited March 13, 2018 by Silurian

[jcsmith]

Devin Nunes. Enough said.

[jcsmith]

I think this Adam Schiff quote from today says it best.

 

Quote

“There are two categories of Republicans in Congress: those who will burn down the House to protect Trump, and those who will stand mute while they do it."

 

[Jingthing]

"trump" is in ALL CAPS mode. Watch out.  He thinks the American people are stupid. Too bad for him the majority of the American people are not in his BASE.

 

 

[mike324]

6 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

There never was collusion etc to begin with so it's impossible to prove a negative. 

 

Mike Conaway, the Texas Republican leading the Russia investigation: "The bottom line: The Russians did commit active measures against our election in '16, and we think they will do that in the future," 

 

"He noted that the worst the panel uncovered was "perhaps some bad judgment, inappropriate meetings, inappropriate judgment at taking meetings"

 

Yet Trump has not address the issue of Russia interfering in US elections. The US is under cyber attack by Russia. Trump lied about his son in law meeting with the Russians. There are many reports of Trumps family trying to establish a back channel with Russia, this will come out after Muellers investigation. Conaway brush aside these meeting as "bad judgement" and "inappropriate" is cowardly. The Trump are working for their own interest, not the US.

 

I do believe that there is no collusion between Trump and Russia in the way that they colluded to win. You can't brush aside that Russia sow discord and help Trump win.

[EVENKEEL]

Obama himself said the Russians weren't hacking the election. Told Trump to go get more votes.

 

I predict the investigation will continue through Trump's first term and possibly through his second.

[heybruce]

7 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

There never was collusion etc to begin with so it's impossible to prove a negative. 

It is possible to prove that Trump is doing nothing to prevent future Russian interference in US elections, but that is better described as treason.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, heybruce said:

It is possible to prove that Trump is doing nothing to prevent future Russian interference in US elections, but that is better described as treason.

He acts in every way that the Russians have something on him, and something big. He has such a disgusting potty mouth towards so many other nations and people including fellow Americans, but to the Russians and Putin he walks on egg shells. Extremely suspicious! 

Edited March 13, 2018 by Jingthing

[Berkshire]

24 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

"trump" is in ALL CAPS mode. Watch out.  He thinks the American people are stupid. Too bad for him the majority of the American people are not in his BASE.

 

 

If Trump tries to use this to interfere with or shut down Mueller's investigation, he will be toast.  But it wouldn't surprise anyone knowing how impulsive and stupid Trump is.  It'll be the Saturday Night Massacre Redux.  

[attrayant]

7 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Obama himself said the Russians weren't hacking the election. 

 

No, he didn't.

[riclag]

9 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

No, he didn't.

Obama said "there was“no serious” person who would suggest it was possible to rig American elections, adding,“I’d invite Mr. Trump to stop whining and go try to make his case to get votes.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election/obama-tells-trump-to-stop-whining-over-rigged-election-claims-idUSKCN12I27L

[attrayant]

2 minutes ago, riclag said:

Obama said "there was“no serious” person who would suggest it was possible to rig American elections, adding,“I’d invite Mr. Trump to stop whining and go try to make his case to get votes.”

 

Yes, I am well aware he said that, within the context of candidate Trump complaining about his anticipated loss to Hillary because of alleged election fraud.  But he never said "the Russians weren't hacking the election", which is what another member posted. Do you have anything that Obama said within the context of election hacking by Russians?

 

Trump cites a misleading Obama quote to say Russia didn’t interfere in the election

 

Quote

Obama’s remarks were in reference to the then-Republican presidential candidate’s claims that widespread voter fraud would rob him of the election, and his encouragement of his supporters to monitor polling places — and not at all about Russian interference in the election.

 

[just bob]

America is toast.  The executive branch is a shitshow, the legistlative branch is hamstrung and the judicial branch is now way right of center.  Oh... And the electorate are uneducated, uninformed parochial red necks.

 

Its a failed democracy replaced by a hungry uncaring corporatocracy. 

 

Have a nice day America.

[Berkshire]

1 hour ago, attrayant said:

 

Yes, I am well aware he said that, within the context of candidate Trump complaining about his anticipated loss to Hillary because of alleged election fraud.  But he never said "the Russians weren't hacking the election", which is what another member posted. Do you have anything that Obama said within the context of election hacking by Russians?

 

Trump cites a misleading Obama quote to say Russia didn’t interfere in the election

 

 

Yes, Trump lies or exaggerates or takes statements out-of-context all the time and relies on his incredibly dimwitted supporters to repeat his lies.  It works every time. 

[riclag]

2 hours ago, mike324 said:

 

Mike Conaway, the Texas Republican leading the Russia investigation: "The bottom line: The Russians did commit active measures against our election in '16, and we think they will do that in the future," 

 

"He noted that the worst the panel uncovered was "perhaps some bad judgment, inappropriate meetings, inappropriate judgment at taking meetings"

 

Yet Trump has not address the issue of Russia interfering in US elections. The US is under cyber attack by Russia. Trump lied about his son in law meeting with the Russians. There are many reports of Trumps family trying to establish a back channel with Russia, this will come out after Muellers investigation. Conaway brush aside these meeting as "bad judgement" and "inappropriate" is cowardly. The Trump are working for their own interest, not the US.

 

I do believe that there is no collusion between Trump and Russia in the way that they colluded to win. You can't brush aside that Russia sow discord and help Trump win.

"I do believe that there is no collusion between Trump and Russia in the way that they colluded to win. You can't brush aside that Russia sow discord and help Trump win".

There should be civics classes and tests before one can vote and pros and cons questionnaires on the issues,to inform the voters. That might work,becoming a educated voter.Also social media must enforce their vetting of news sources.

Take it a step further have congress banning foreign news sites from reporting anything about politics in the USA.   So much for the 1st Amendment,kiss that goodbye. 

Edited March 13, 2018 by riclag

[EVENKEEL]

2 hours ago, attrayant said:

 

Yes, I am well aware he said that, within the context of candidate Trump complaining about his anticipated loss to Hillary because of alleged election fraud.  But he never said "the Russians weren't hacking the election", which is what another member posted. Do you have anything that Obama said within the context of election hacking by Russians?

 

Trump cites a misleading Obama quote to say Russia didn’t interfere in the election

 

 

I apologize for not going out of my way to find Obama's exact words, no he didn't use the word Russians. He did say their was no way to rig the elections. There was nothing misleading about Obama's words.

 

Thank you riclag

[riclag]

3 hours ago, attrayant said:

Yes, I am well aware he said that, within the context of candidate Trump complaining about his anticipated loss to Hillary because of alleged election fraud.  But he never said "the Russians weren't hacking the election", which is what another member posted. Do you have anything that Obama said within the context of election hacking by Russians?

No,nothing said by Obama or his administration during the election that mentions Russian meddling.

 "Stand Down’: How The Obama Team Blew The Response To Russian Meddling".

In 2016 " Brennan was now aware that at least a year earlier Russian hackers had begun their cyberattack on the Democratic National Committee. We know you’re doing this, Brennan said to the Russian. He pointed out that Americans would be enraged to find out Moscow was seeking to subvert the election — and that such an operation could backfire".

Why wasn't anything done about it during the election campaign? 

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stand-down-how-the-obama-team-blew-the-response-to-russian-meddling_us_5aa29a97e4b086698a9d1112

Edited March 13, 2018 by riclag

[SheungWan]

10 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

There never was collusion etc to begin with so it's impossible to prove a negative. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/politics/mueller-investigation-charges.html

 

[Grouse]

1 hour ago, SheungWan said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/politics/mueller-investigation-charges.html

 

Damning.

[Redline]

14 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

There never was collusion etc to begin with so it's impossible to prove a negative. 

Another “inside the investigations” man ?.   Why don’t you just tell them all to stop?

[Trouble]

Did we really need all these investigations to begin with?   House, Senate, FBI and now Mueller.  Just let Mueller sort it out and save the taxpayers millions of dollars.