Politics

House Republicans Call For Investigation Into Leaks Of Don Jr.’s Testimony

Chuck Ross Investigative Reporter
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Three House Republicans are calling on House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to investigate leaks from the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the election.

In particular, the three Republicans, New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, Utah Rep. Mia Love, and Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe, want to find out who leaked confidential information from testimony given earlier this month by Donald Trump Jr.

“Significant evidence that serious leaks have occurred in relation to the [House intel] investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election must be immediately addressed,” the Republicans wrote.

The Republicans noted that CNN began to report information from Trump Jr.’s testimony even while he was being interviewed. Trump Jr’s. lawyer, Alan Futerfas, has complained about the leaks, noting that he and Trump Jr. were unaware of the leaks because they were required to surrender their cell phones prior to the closed-door proceedings.

CNN also reported inaccurate details about an email that Trump Jr. was asked about during his interview. The network reported two days after Trump Jr.’s meeting that he was sent an email on Sept. 4, 2016 offering access to stolen DNC documents. But CNN’s source — widely believed to be a member or staffer on the House Intelligence Committee — relayed the wrong date. The email was actually sent on Sept. 14, 2016, a day after the information cited in the email had been made public.

In their letter, Zeldin, Love and Ratcliffe called on Ryan and Pelosi to remove any Intelligence committee member found to have leaked information about its investigation. They also called for “appropriate disciplinary action” to be taken against any committee staffers who broke confidentiality agreements.

“These serious violations need to be investigated and any members responsible for such violations must no longer serve as part of this investigation. Any staff who have violated committee or House rules must also face appropriate disciplinary action,” reads the letter.

“Members or staff who may have violated rules by leaking sensitive information to the press or other outside entities must be promptly removed from this investigation and proper inquiries undertaken without delay.”

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