The US Senate’s top Republican Wednesday dismissed growing calls for a special prosecutor to probe allegations of Russian election interference after President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey.
Comey ouster has raised urgent questions over the future of the FBI probe into Russian meddling, and into possible collusion between the Kremlin and Trump’s team.
The Democratic opposition — who fear current probes in the Republican-held Senate and House of Representatives have already been politicized — are calling for the Justice Department to appoint a so-called special counsel to oversee the investigation.
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell slapped down that suggestion.
“Today we will no doubt hear calls for a new investigation which could only serve to impede the current work being done,” McConnell told the chamber.
Comey was officially sacked for mishandling a high-stakes probe into the emails of Trump’s presidential rival, Hillary Clinton, but the explanation was greeted with overwhelming skepticism from Democrats as well as some Republicans.
Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, who has led calls for a so-called special counsel, said there was “little reason to think” it was the true reason Trump fired Comey.
“We know director Comey was leading an investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians,” Schumer said. “Were those investigations getting too close to home for the president?”
Several Republican lawmakers have also expressed deep concern about the timing and rationale of Comey’s dismissal, and some have joined in the calls for an independent congressional investigation.
“My staff and I are reviewing legislation to establish an independent commission on Russia,” tweeted conservative House Republican Justin Amash.
Senate Republican John McCain said he has long-backed a “special congressional committee,” while moderate Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski said they were studying the option.
While some Republicans defended Trump’s actions, the bombshell announcement rattled members of Congress.
“There’s no question that we are in a very volatile, sensitive and fragile time in this nation and the public’s confidence with government,” Senate Republican Tim Scott said.
But Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, one of three panels probing the Russia allegations, told reporters he did not feel an independent inquiry was necessary.
“I think this made our task a little more difficult, but it didn’t make it impossible,” he said, adding he was “confident” his panel will get to the truth.
“I hope to do it in a bipartisan way, but the investigation will run its course,” he said.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.