WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in calling on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to appoint a Special Counsel at the Department of Justice to investigate the circumstances that led to the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. The Senators asked for the investigation to answer, among other questions, who else in the administration may have known of or encouraged Flynn to discuss sanctions with Russia during the transition, and whether these actions were conducted at President-Elect Trump’s request or with his prior knowledge.
“The fact that a senior national security advisor served for weeks while the President knew he had been identified as vulnerable to Russian blackmail is stunning,” said Merkley. “At this point, the things we know about the events leading to the resignation of Michael Flynn raise far more questions than answers. It’s clear that to get to the bottom of this, an independent investigation will be essential. This goes to the core of our national security. If Attorney General Sessions is serious about safeguarding our security, he must appoint an independent Special Counsel to investigate without delay.”
The full text of the letter sent by Merkley and Blumenthal can be read here.
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