We need to thank Senator Richard Burr. Yesterday, he showed that he’ll put country before party. While other GOP Senators were making excuses for Trump’s firing of FBI director James Comey, Burr, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, offered a strong rebuke.
“I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination. I have found Director Comey to be a public servant of the highest order, and his dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the Committee,” Burr said through a press a release. His release was timely, didn’t mince words and implies that there’s much more to be uncovered in the investigation into ties between the Trump Campaign and Russia.
Earlier in the week, Burr said that he would issue subpoenas if necessary to compel people to cooperate. Several Trump campaign officials ignored deadlines to turn over documents to the Intelligence Committee. Burr is clearly taking his role seriously.
Right now, we need more elected officials who will set aside their partisanship to get to the bottom of Russia’s interference in our elections. Too many partisans on both sides are rushing to judgement, either hoping for impeachment or claiming a witch hunt. The stakes here are too high for partisan divisions.
According to testimony of former Director of Intelligence James Clapper, we can expect Russia to continue to meddle in elections here and around the world. That’s unacceptable and we need to find out if anyone collaborated with Putin and his thugs. There should be a zero tolerance for people who would cooperate with a foreign power to interfere with our elections for either political or financial gain.
Putin is not pro-Republican or pro-Democrat. He’s anti-American, anti-West and anti-democratic. That he would try to manipulate our political system for his gain should rally patriots of all stripes to defend our country. Senator Burr clearly wants to get to the bottom of his involvement. President Trump’s criticism and interference should be raising flags, not rallying his troops.
Given Trump’s apparent obstructionism through critical tweets and now firing Comey, we need an independent investigation. Republican Congressman Justin Amash has called for one. So has Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock. Senator John McCain seems to be leaning that way. I hope Senator Burr will join the chorus.
For now, though, let’s just applaud his patriotism.
Burr and McConnell are the best arguments I have ever seen for term limits.
Everyone has said what I was going to say. Talk is cheap, Burr is bargain-basement for-sale cheap.
We moved to NC eight years ago and never heard of Richard Burr. He was — and remains — the proverbial empty suit. I would be shocked if he ever stood up to Trump.
What a joke. Richard Burr has never put country over party. He works for the GOP, the insurance industry and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He does not work for NC citizens. Never has, never will. If we really wanted to put country over party he would start opposing the ridiculous policies of #45.
Sorry, Thomas, you are wrong. Burr has been consistent in moving his committee’s investigation too slowly, and opposes a special investigation and/or a special prosecutor.
I find myself cautiously wary. The events of the past thirty-six hours have demonstrably revealed paradox; either Donald Trump is as stupid as we all think he is, or he is as devious and cunning as his previous business dealings have shown him to be. I’m not sure which.
As for Richard Burr, he is going to stand on the limb that provides him the best support and eventual outcome. If denouncing the President works in his favor (and it does with his voters) then that is the stand he takes. However, siding with Mitch McConnell about not needing a Special Independent Prosecutor and subsequent investigation keeps his seat as Chair of the Intelligence Committee snug and safe. Richard Burr isn’t looking out for the Nation or North Carolina; he’s looking out for Richard Burr.
If you are an agent in the counter intelligence division of the FBI, your life is in danger from Trump telling the Russians who you are and what you are doing.
There is evidence that I do not have. Seth Abramson who I see on Twitter did an excellent co-ordination of the Steele Dossier linking photos to the Steele Dossier.
Steele was in hiding, and what caused him to believe his life was not in danger is unknown. Steele was supposed to be testifying. Comey asked for more aid, got fired & may have still to testify.
Yates was fired. Yates testified. Nothing seems to have come from that.
Recused smarmy Sessions is not living up to the recused position. Rosenstein fronted for him. Lavrov gloat laughed with Trump on the next day in the US Presidential office.
Special Investigation, evidence is scattered. People fear for their lives. Gorsuch is appointed. Rules changed to make that happen. Lots of rules being broken & changed and lies from the President rain upon us as a permanent monsoon.
Special Investigation is required because the FBI is no longer functional. It was maybe taking its time for fear of who of its own might be murdered. Who is dead already?
An excellent question; who IS dead already? People we’ve never heard of. A blurb about Russians being found dead; Russians that had expertise in computer technology and intelligence.
To that end, I’ll ask an additional question. Donald Trump is all over the news (fake and otherwise) calling for an investigation. He keeps saying that no one has nothing to hide, but, that the Russians didn’t influence the outcome of the election. How does he know? He dances around every issue and then stands fast on “where’s the proof? Wheres the evidence to prove what you’re saying.”
How does he know what the outcome will be on an investigation that he has no part of; or does he? He had to have his pawns in place before he started advancing. And now he has them.
Aside from zero trust that his words mean anything, I don’t want him or anyone in the Senate or the House doing any more of this investigation. I want outside, independent people with subpoena authority. He also, as noted above, insists that there is no need for a special prosecutor.
What would Republicans have done if Obama fired Comey in the middle of Clinton emails investigation? Would it look like their reaction today? Would that be country over party?
Funny headline. .burr is all about party lines..he is as a paid for political pawn.
Burr never fails to disappoint.
It’s a matter of character, or the lack thereof. Look at his record. Look at the campaign he just ran.
Maybe events may transform him, but I don’t want to bet the future of the Republic on that.
This is nice. It’s still all talk. The time for “strong rebukes” has passed. Do something, or you are not putting party above country. If Clinton has been elected, he’d still be investigating emails and Benghazi.
Mills wrote that we need to thank Burr for putting country before party. So it wouldn’t hurt to send him an email saying that. Here’s Burr’s email link:
https://www.burr.senate.gov/contact/email
Couldn’t hurt. 🙂
Sorry, Thomas, there’s no more room in me for unbridled optimism. We’re fucked
This just in: Country-before-party man just forcefully rejected calls for an independent investigation.
The day Richard Burr stops dragging his sockless penny loafered fratty boy jock strap feet, and starts putting the country ahead of his own cheaply partisan political career, will be the day to celebrate. Hearing that he”s “troubled” means very little. He wasn’t ever “troubled” when joking about torture, or painting targets on the face of his political adversaries. Character matters. Furrowing one’s “troubled” brow is cheap theatrics.
Ignore his words, but watch is (lack of) actions. He is a political hack who will continue to put party before country. He, along with the rest of the GOP, have no interest in investigating our corrupt president and administration. He can claim otherwise, but it’s all a sham.
Couldn’t agree more. All of these spineless POS, Graham, M cCain Burr – the whole fucking GOP is full of shit. All talk and no action. It’s been that way for years. As a country, I see our democracy in the beginning death throes. It seems EVERYBODY id afraid of trumPutin.
All talk talk talk. There’s no evidence that Burr is will actually do anything … none whatsoever. He’s been slow-walking his committee from day one.
I’ll be the first to say I was wrong if Burr steps up, but I don’t see it happening.
Update. Burr says special prosecutor is not needed. That tells you everything you need to know about the senior senator from North Carolina. He’s full of shit as always.