Michael Reynolds/ CNP via ZUMA Wire
On Tuesday evening, the New York Times reported that President Donald Trump asked former FBI director James Comey during a February meeting to end the federal investigation into Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. The White House denied in a statement that Trump had ever asked Comey or “anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.”
Since the latest bombshell hit, lawmakers have come out to question whether the president engaged in obstruction of justice—and one senator raised, for the first time, the prospect of impeachment. Here are some of the responses from members of Congress on Tuesday night:
Could we be moving toward an impeachment process? “Reluctantly, I have to say yes,” Sen. Angus King says https://t.co/digVs7JDAd
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) May 16, 2017
Schumer moments ago: “The country is being tested in unprecedented ways. I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate – history is watching.” pic.twitter.com/zVXFzpSI4X
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 16, 2017
Schiff on NYT report: “This is yet another disturbing allegation that the president engaged in obstructing an investigation.”
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) May 16, 2017
.@Sen_JoeManchin: I’m trying to work with Trump but I can’t explain this at all https://t.co/7JP8IOdHUl #TheLead
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 16, 2017
“This reporting, if confirmed, would represent a grave development. The need for a special counsel and an independent commission to investigate the President’s conduct, as it relates to this issue, and his campaign’s possible coordination with Russia is urgent. The stories of the last week raise serious questions about whether the President respects the independence of the FBI and law enforcement authorities. It is vital that Congress obtain these memos and hear public testimony from former Director Comey. No one, not even the President, is above the law and the American people deserve answers about President Trump’s conduct.” — Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) re: @nytimes report. “If this happened the FBI director should have done something about it or quit.”
— Natalie Andrews (@nataliewsj) 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
Blumenthal on Trump: “We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time.” pic.twitter.com/PMhTaiOT8c
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 16, 2017
Durbin: “When will a Republican senator step out of the shadows” and call for a special prosecutor on Trump’s “tangled web of deception?” pic.twitter.com/FgNeUTdf3G
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) 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
Rep. Castro on reports: “If it in fact is true, then yes, that is an impeachable offense” https://t.co/c43kDFj5F5 https://t.co/isdiwQwLW8
— CNN (@CNN) May 16, 2017
McCain just said at a dinner honoring him that the Trump scandals have reached a “Watergate size and scale” — wow
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) May 17, 2017
Meanwhile, a number of Republicans were quick to unleash a flurry of “no comments”:
.@RepPeteKing won’t commment on NYT report that Trump asked Comey to drop probe of Flynn, says there have been a lot of “misleading reports”
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) May 16, 2017
Add it to the list: Nunes, no comment. Conaway, no comment. lobiando, no comment.
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) May 16, 2017
.@FoxNews reporting on the air now that they can’t get a Republican member on the air right now to defend Trump
— Sarah Westwood (@sarahcwestwood) May 16, 2017
I just asked @DarrellIssa abt the Comey news and he flicked me off — literally gave me the middle finger — and kept walking. Said nothing
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) May 16, 2017
Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees sent a letter on Tuesday demanding a full investigation into whether Trump and his top officials engaged in an “ongoing conspiracy to obstruct” federal and congressional investigations into his campaign’s ties to Russia.
NEW: Chaffetz letter to FBI asking for all memoranda, notes, summaries, recordings relating to communications btwn Comey/Trump by May 24th pic.twitter.com/HxNzis45Rs
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) May 17, 2017
We will continue updating this post as more members of Congress weigh in.
