Tag: Sen. Grassley

Grassley: No reason to delay Kavanaugh hearing

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is pressing forward with a hearing scheduled for Monday after a woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct called for the FBI to investigate her claims before she testifies.

Grassley on Tuesday evening said there was “no reason” to delay the hearing. Republicans have invited both Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, his accuser, to testify publicly.

“Dr. Ford’s testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay,” Grassley said.

View the complete September 18 article by Jordain Carney on the Hill website here.

Senate Panel Tees Up Mueller Protection Bill Despite Headwinds

The following article by Todd Ruger was posted on the Roll Call website April 19, 2018:

McConnell indicates measure won’t reach Senate floor

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley and ranking member Sen. Dianne Feinstein Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee say they want to act on a bill to protect Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III — even if Majority Leader Mitch McConnell essentially killed it by saying it won’t make it to the floor.

They then spoke to the natural follow-up question: Why bother?

“I answered this question I’ll bet about 10 times,” Chairman Charles E. Grassley told the committee Thursday. “The press is always trying to put us between me and the president, or me and the majority leader. I don’t care to be put in the middle of anything. Continue reading “Senate Panel Tees Up Mueller Protection Bill Despite Headwinds”

A Partisan Combatant, a Remorseful Blogger: The Senate Staffer Behind the Attack on the Trump-Russia Investigation

The following article by Robert Faturechi was posted on the ProPublica website March 28, 2018:

Jason Foster, chief investigative counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, once blogged under the handle “Extremist,” expressing worry about a Muslim takeover and whether Joe McCarthy got a bum rap. Today, as he helps lead an explosive investigation, he says the blogging was satire and asks for forgiveness.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Grassley and ranking member Feinstein listen to testimony during a hearing on Capitol Hill in July. Jason Foster is chief investigative counsel to this committee. Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Jason Foster, chief investigative counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, fits a classic Washington profile: A powerful, mostly unknown force at the center of some of the most consequential battles on Capitol Hill.

For the last year, Foster — empowered by his boss, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the committee’s chairman — has been the behind-the-scenes architect of an assault on the FBI, and most centrally its role in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to interviews with current and former congressional aides, federal law enforcement officials and others. Continue reading “A Partisan Combatant, a Remorseful Blogger: The Senate Staffer Behind the Attack on the Trump-Russia Investigation”

Senate panel to release interviews with Trump Jr., others involved in meeting with Russian lawyer

The following article by Karoun Demirjian was posted on the Washington Post website January 25, 2018:

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Jan. 25 that he’ll release transcripts of interviews related to Donald Trump Jr.’s Trump Tower meeting with Russians. (Jordan Frasier/The Washington Post)

The Senate Judiciary Committee intends to release transcripts of its interviews with President Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., and others who participated in a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer allegedly promising damaging information about Hillary Clinton.

Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said Thursday that the committee would disclose “all witness interviews that we have done related to that meeting,” making them available to the public “for everyone to see.” The committee’s interviews, which were conducted behind closed doors, are complete, he added. Continue reading “Senate panel to release interviews with Trump Jr., others involved in meeting with Russian lawyer”

Trump criticism dominates Chuck Grassley town meeting in rural Iowa

The following article by Jason Noble was posted on the Des Moines Register website January 12, 2018:

LOGAN, Ia. — U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley faced relentless questioning about President Donald Trump’s fitness for office and his own handling of the investigation into Russian election meddling at a rural town meeting here Friday morning.

Amid a smattering of questions about trucking regulations, homeopathic medicine and pension security, a steady stream of attendees pressed Grassley to defend his handling of the ongoing Russia investigation and to offer his views on Trump’s conduct on the job. Continue reading “Trump criticism dominates Chuck Grassley town meeting in rural Iowa”

Grassley pressed on Trump at town hall

The following article by Julia Manchester was posted on the Hill website January 12, 2018:

Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) at a town hall in his home state of Iowa on Friday repeatedly dodged questions from his constituents on President Trump‘s behavior following reports that Trump referred to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as “shithole countries.”

“Are you not personally concerned about his fitness to serve? If not, why not? Because I’m very concerned,” one attendee told Grassley, who responded by saying he was not qualified to make a psychological assessment, the Des Moines Register reported. Continue reading “Grassley pressed on Trump at town hall”

Democrats Push Back Against Graham, Grassley Dossier Criminal Referral

The following article by Griffin Connolly was posted on the Roll Call website January 8, 2018:

Graham looks like a ‘man possessed’ over dossier obsession, Swalwell says

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is among those pushing for a criminal investigation into the author of the Trump Russia dossier. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

A Democrat on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham “looks like a man possessed” as he and other Republican lawmakers amp up pressure on the main actors behind the Trump dossier alleging the president is compromised by ties to Russia.

Graham and Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley of Iowa recommended a criminal investigation into Christopher Steele, the dossier author, for making false statements to federal investigators.

California Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of a slew of Democrats to denounce the Republican senators for the criminal referral, criticized Graham for losing his way in deference to President Donald Trump. Continue reading “Democrats Push Back Against Graham, Grassley Dossier Criminal Referral”

Read the full transcript of Glenn Simpson’s Senate testimony

Earlier today, Sen. Diane Feinstein released the transcript of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s 10-hour testimony Mr. Simpson of Fusion GPS regarding their Russia dossier.

The New York Times has posted that testimony.  Here’s a link to it if you’d like to read it.

Senior Republican refers Trump-Russia dossier author for possible charges

The following article by Devlin Barrett and Tom Hamburger was posted on the Washington Post website January 5, 2018:

Former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, shown in London in March. (Victoria Jones/PA Images/AP)

The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended Friday that the Justice Department investigate for possible criminal charges the author of the now-famous dossier alleging the Trump campaign coordinated with the Kremlin during the 2016 election.

The move by Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) marks a major escalation in conservatives’ challenges to the FBI’s credibility as the agency investigates whether any Trump associates committed crimes. Another Republican, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), joined in the letter to the Justice Department.

Their letter makes what is called a criminal referral to the Justice Department, suggesting it investigate the dossier’s author, former British spy Christopher Steele, for possibly lying to the FBI. It is a crime to lie to FBI agents about a material fact relevant to an ongoing investigation. Continue reading “Senior Republican refers Trump-Russia dossier author for possible charges”

It’s Not Just Romney: Hatch Retirement Could Lead to Decisions for Grassley, Crapo

The following article by Niels Lesniewski was posted on the Roll Call website January 2 2018:

Judiciary chairman appears to have time left as leader of Finance panel

Sens Charles E. Grassley and Orrin G. Hatch have served alongside each other at the Finance and Judiciary committees. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call file photo)

When GOP Sen. Orrin G. Hatch announced Tuesday that he will retire from the Senate after serving Utah for more than four decades, talk quickly turned to whether Mitt Romney will seek to succeed him.

But on Capitol Hill, the pending departure of the Finance Committee chairman — who could have wielded the tax writing gavel for two more years under conference rules — also raises questions about which senator will lead the GOP on taxes, trade, health care and entitlements. Continue reading “It’s Not Just Romney: Hatch Retirement Could Lead to Decisions for Grassley, Crapo”