Members of Congress grappled with a bombshell report Tuesday claiming President Donald Trump asked the FBI Director James Comey to end the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
The New York Times report, which was subsequently confirmed by several other outlets, was based on notes Comey took after the two met in the White House in February. Trump fired Comey last week.
A number of congressional Democrats expressed shock and outrage at the development, with some accusing the president of obstructing justice.
They took their lead from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who issued a stern warning to his Republican colleagues.
“Mr. President, in a week full of revelation after revelation, on a day when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, they have,” Schumer said on the floor of the Senate.
“The country is being tested in unprecedented ways. I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate: History is watching.”
Several Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, called for Comey to testify before Congress to see “whether any effort was made to obstruct the investigation.”
Rep. Elijah Cummings, ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, called Tuesday’s report a “smoking gun”:
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen went a step further, saying the report “may be the clearest example yet” of Trump’s effort to obstruct justice.
Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse used similar language:
As did Rep. Ted Deutch, a Democrat from Florida:
Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley questioned whether Trump was attempting a cover-up:
On the other side of the aisle, Republican Sen. Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, directed his frustration at the media:
But some Republicans were critical of the president. Using unusually blunt language, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Trump’s alleged actions “seem like an extraordinary use of influence” to derail an investigation.
Chaffetz then vowed to issue a subpoena for Comey’s memo:
And Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo had an especially grim outlook:
More from Mark Abadi:
- Lawmakers are sounding the alarm over reports that Trump tried to squash the Flynn investigation
- Alan Dershowitz: ‘This is the most serious charge ever made against a sitting president’
- Alan Dershowitz: ‘This is the most serious charge ever made against a sitting president’
- Bernie Sanders blasts ‘reckless and dangerous’ Trump for reportedly sharing classified information
- Why Trump probably won’t get in trouble for telling Russia highly classified information
WATCH: my speech following @nytimes report indicating POTUS asked former FBI Dir Comey to end Natl Security Adviser Flynn investigation: pic.twitter.com/PMiG5DUXa1
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 16, 2017
Rep. Adam Schiff says he wants James Comey to testify https://t.co/afPfMCSNbO https://t.co/lvf0Adr1U7
— CNN (@CNN) May 16, 2017
Rep. Elijah Cummings: “We’ve got a smoking gun with a lot of dark smoke. … I think it’s a sad day for our country” https://t.co/w20Xur4E9c
— CNN (@CNN) May 16, 2017
This may be the clearest example yet of an effort by President Trump to obstruct justice. Vital that Comey testifies at public hearing soon. https://t.co/tkJnwP9PfV
— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) May 16, 2017
Yesterday, secrets to the Russians. Today, obstruction of justice? When does this end? pic.twitter.com/HBCH8i8PAQ
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) May 16, 2017
Asking FBI to drop an investigation is obstruction of justice. Obstruction of justice is an impeachable offence.https://t.co/cQT5kVuWeD
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) May 16, 2017
Why has Trump been going to such lengths to stop this investigation? What’s he covering up?
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) May 16, 2017
Senate intel chair Richard Burr: We are concerned “anytime we hear or read an intelligence story in the media” https://t.co/nJVrMZ84l2
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) May 16, 2017
CHAFFETZ: “On the surface that seems like an extraordinary use of influence to try to shutdown an investigation being done by the FBI”
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) May 16, 2017
.@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) May 16, 2017
If recent allegations are true, they mark the beginning of a new and very sad chapter of scandal and controversy in our country.
— Rep. Carlos Curbelo (@RepCurbelo) May 16, 2017
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