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Senate Russia investigation to add 2 more staffers
Senate Russia investigation to add 2 more staffers after pace criticized
Rather: Trump's actions fuel speculation 01:12
Story highlights
- The Senate intelligence committee is reviewing documents related to Russia meddling in the US election
- Some have been frustrated at the pace of the so-far three-month investigation
(CNN)The
Senate Intelligence Committee is hiring two new staffers for its
investigation into Russian interference in the US election, the top
Democrat on the Senate Russia investigation told CNN on Monday.
The
additional staffers -- including one Republican and one Democrat,
versed in the National Security Agency collection tactics -- come as
some sources on the committee have grumbled behind the scenes about the
pace of the investigation.
Sen.
Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, said investigators obtained a large
batch of documents they requested just before Congress went on break and
have completed 27 interviews as part of their investigation.
"I
think things need to pick up ... now that we've gotten ... through the
first cut of all the information," Warner told CNN in an interview. "Our
approach, which is going to continue to be methodical, though, because
when you bring in some of the names that have been bandied about in the
press, you don't know how many bites at the apple you're going to get.
You want to make sure you ask the right questions."
A
Senate intelligence committee source said Monday that Warner was
frustrated with the pace of the investigation -- even as it has been
viewed publicly as the more collegial investigation, when compared to
the House Russia investigation. The Senate investigation has moved
slowly, and without the drama of the House version, but Warner said he
expects things to pick up.
"All
those questions are now going to be coming to a head, because we've now
gotten through the first round of document review," Warner said.
Senate investigators, the source said, are a long way from bringing in high-profile targets like former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone and former Trump campaign adviser on national security Carter Page.
Other Democrats on the committee have been urging lawmakers to move more aggressively.
"I've
made clear to leadership I have concerns about the pace," Sen. Ron
Wyden, a Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, told CNN. "I believe
you have to speed it up right now. Americans are getting most info from
leaks and false tweets."
Wyden said
that he would like to see investigators begin using subpoenas and
hosting more public hearings to extract information.
Wyden
also declined to say whether he's confident in Senate intelligence
committee chairman Richard Burr's leadership atop the panel. He said
he's counting on Warner to help pick up the pace.
"I don't think it's going as quickly," said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who declined to elaborate.
"I
am concerned it's not moving along fast enough," said New Mexico Sen.
Martin Heinrich. "I think it is making progress. But I think there needs
to be more resources, more staffing."
The
frustrations appear far from boiling over into the dysfunction that
almost derailed the House Intelligence Committee's investigation a month
ago.
"I wish there were a way that
it could go even more quickly but I think it's important that we be
thorough," said Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican on the Senate
intelligence committee. "And I was very happy we had the open hearing to
hear from Russia experts, which put in context the efforts of Russia
over the ages. The two leaders of the committee work extremely well
together and we get a briefing all the time from them every week on
where we are."
Sen.
Angus King, a Senate intelligence member and Maine Independent who
caucuses with the Democrats, downplayed any partisan tensions.
"I don't know of any partisan delays or any of that," King said. "The staff is working very diligently at it."
And Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford tweeted, "Don't confuse silence for lack of progress."
Senate
investigators have gained access to the intelligence typically reserved
for the small "Gang of Eight" -- an exclusive group of House and Senate
leaders with top-level intelligence clearance, which include leadership
as well as the chairmen and ranking members of each chamber's
intelligence committee. And staff have been talking with the analysts.
In
the Capitol, the House Russia investigation has drawn the most
attention by far -- beginning with FBI Director James Comey's stunning
revelation last month that the FBI has been investigating Trump aides since last July, through to House intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes' surprise recusal from the investigation as he became the subject of a House ethics investigation stemming from his secret trip to the White House in March.
The
consternation comes as lawmakers return from their two-week break,
which saw much of the heated debate about the investigations die down,
capped by Nunes' recusal just hours before House lawmakers left town.
The
gears have been turning slowly behind the scenes in the Capitol, but
mounting anger in public outside Washington has been clear in town hall
confrontations and polling.
An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Monday found
that 73% of respondents want an independent commission instead of
Congress to investigate Russia's interference. Only 16% of respondents
said they preferred Congress.
The
Senate Intelligence Committee has hosted a pair of public hearings in
its investigation so far. The House invited former acting Attorney
General Sally Yates, former Director of National Intelligence James
Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan for its second public
hearing May 2, following weeks of partisan wrangling over the hearing in
private.
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