Trump to take office under Senate investigation

https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-01-13/senate-panel-to-p...

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“As part of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s oversight responsibilities we believe that it is critical to have a full understanding of the scope of Russian intelligence activities impacting the United States," said Chairman Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican, and Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, in a joint statement late Friday.

The committee’s investigation comes a day after the Senate received a closed-door briefing from top intelligence officials on allegations of hacking and other activities by Russian intelligence. It has the backing of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

“This issue impacts the foundations of our democratic system, it’s that important," Warner said. "This requires a full, deep and bipartisan examination."

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Friday’s announcement marks a concession by Republican Senate leaders because they included Trump’s campaign team -- and the possibility they had contacts with Russia -- within the scope of the probe. They also said they would enforce interview requests by subpoena if necessary.

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Warner left open the possibility that additional probes could be conducted by other committees. A number of senators in both parties, led by Armed Services Chairman John McCain of Arizona, have pressed for a select committee to look at Russian hacking, but McConnell has blocked the idea.

McCain has also said the Armed Services panel will probe Russian hacking, both in the U.S. and elsewhere.

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