Plan B Forum

House Republicans call for a second special counsel — to investigate Clinton, Comey and Lynch

House Judiciary Committee Republicans on Thursday called for a new special counsel — to investigate Hillary Clinton, James Comey and Loretta Lynch.

In a letter addressed to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the Republicans said they were writing to "request assistance in restoring public confidence in our nation's justice system and its investigators, specifically the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)."

The lawmakers said they presumed investigation of potential Russian influence on the U.S. presidential election was covered by special counsel Robert Mueller, but that they "are not confident that other matters related to the 2016 election and aftermath are similarly under investigation" by the former FBI director.

"The unbalanced, uncertain, and seemingly unlimited focus of the special counsel's investigation has led many of our constituents to see a dual standard of justice that benefits only the powerful and politically well-connected," the letter said. "For this reason, we call on you to appoint a second special counsel to investigate a plethora of matters connected to the 2016 election and its aftermath, including actions taken by previously public figures like Attorney General Loretta Lynch, FBI Director James Comey, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton."

House Judiciary Committee votes to request documents on Comey, Clinton

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee passed an amendment on Wednesday requesting documents related to former FBI Director James Comey's communications with the Obama administration and journalists.

According to The Washington Post, the amendment guts a resolution of inquiry introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) asking for documents related to Comey's firing in May.

The GOP amendment was co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Jim Jordan (Ohio) and Mike Johnson (La.).

“In my district, my constituents say, ‘Hey, what’s going on with investigation of the crimes of the previous administration?’ ” [I'm kinda doubting that Andy] Biggs said, according to the Post. “When I hear talk that this contains right-wing conspiracies — well, I’ll tell you, my constituents think what’s going on in the other bill are left-wing conspiracy theories.”

Jayapal accused committee Republicans of abdicating their responsibility to hold Trump to account and using the resolution to push "right-wing conspiracy theories."

"They gutted our resolution of inquiry into the firing of James Comey by – literally – trying to erase any discussion of it from the resolution," she said in a statement. "Instead, they substituted in language from bogus, right-wing conspiracy theories about former officials who currently hold no office."

Democrats and some Republicans have questioned the circumstances under which Comey was abruptly ousted, particularly whether President Trump did so to disrupt the law enforcement investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

Trump appeared to acknowledge himself days after Comey was fired that he considered the Russia probe as part of his decision to oust the FBI director.

The GOP amendment, however, turns the resolution's focus to questions raised by some Republicans and the Trump administration over Comey's handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's email use and the former top cop's alleged "leaks" of memos he authored, in which he documented his interactions with Trump.

“They’re not focused on things like the Clinton Foundation functionally selling access to the State Department; they’re not worried about selling uranium to the Russians; they’re not worried about unmasking,” Gaetz said, according to the Post, reportedly referring to the Democrats.

House Conservative Calls for Special Counsel's Resignation

A member of the House Judiciary Committee is calling on special counsel Robert Mueller to resign, citing a conflict of interest because of his relationship with fired FBI Director James Comey.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A conservative House Republican is calling on special counsel Robert Mueller to resign, citing what he says is a conflict of interest because of Mueller's "close friendship" with fired FBI Director James Comey.

The argument from Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, a member of the Judiciary Committee, echoes that of President Donald Trump in an effort to question Mueller's credentials for the job. Mueller, appointed after Trump abruptly fired Comey, is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible ties to Trump's campaign.

Franks said in a statement that Mueller "must resign to maintain the integrity of the investigation into alleged Russian ties."

A spokesman for the special counsel's office declined to comment.

Mueller and Comey, both known for their integrity and self-assuredness, served closely alongside each other in the Bush administration's Justice Department, and Comey has described Mueller as "one of the finest people I've ever met." But there's little evidence that they are close friends.

Lord Jim (quoted someone who) wrote:

• Trump appeared to acknowledge himself days after Comey was fired that he considered the Russia probe as part of his decision to oust the FBI director.

Econoline wrote:... What. the. actual. fuck. He said it explicitly, out loud, in public, on the record.