An independent commission must be impaneled to investigate foreign attempts to subvert America’s political processes, and it cannot become a partisan circus.
It must be removed from Congress and not be about reliving the 2016 election. The purpose, rather, is to understand what happened, who in American politics or government knew about it or was complicit at the time, whether conflicts of interest or blackmail potential still exist in the White House, Cabinet or Congress — and, yes, whether laws were broken.
The scope of the probe should extend to other nations we know have hacked American systems, such as China and North Korea.
Understanding a threat is the first step toward thwarting it. But the imminent danger appears to be from Russian actions and Russian contacts within Donald Trump’s inner circle.
The contacts have already cost Trump one national security adviser, former Gen. Michael Flynn, and now threaten recently confirmed Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
During his Senate confirmation hearings, Sessions testified he had no contact with Russians during the presidential campaign, but the Justice Department itself on Wednesday said Sessions had talked with Russian ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak twice during that time.
This would indicate that Sessions perjured himself. He says the contacts did not involve the campaign, but the Senate questions had not made the distinction.
In a press conference Thursday, Sessions rejected calls for his resignation but agreed to recuse himself from any investigation. This makes an independent commission, not under the Justice Department’s control, all the more important.
Key Republicans, including Trump supporter Rep. Darrell Issa and House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, are joining calls from Democrats and watchdog groups for an independent investigation. They are justifiably wary of future implications should Congress and the administration ignore the issue.
East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell, the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on the CIA, has been a leader in this and is actively gathering support. Swalwell told the Bay Area News Group editorial board last Friday that Congress should use the model of the 9/11 commission co-chaired by Lee Hamilton and Thomas Kean. The body was assembled to collect and examine information, not simply to point the finger of blame.
It is a good suggestion, clearly in the national interest. Republicans and Democrats should follow it.
President Trump and his team should stop the “fake news” sideshow and support an investigation to clear the air. Their credibility is at stake.
Trump showed the nation Tuesday that he can act presidentially during a speech to Congress. He needs to make it a full-time job.
This could be a start.
Bay Area News Group
