Elijah Cummings: 'If the public knew what Congress knows' they would boycott the inauguration too

[DonViejo]

Source: RawStory

DAVID EDWARDS
19 JAN 2017 AT 09:42 ET

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) on Thursday asserted that the general public would boycott Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration if they had access to classified information about Russia’s interference in the U.S. election.

During an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo, Cummings explained that he would be attending the inauguration but he defended the more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who have vowed not to show up.

“You’ve got to understand that members of Congress have a lot of information that the public does not have,” Cummings said. “And I can tell you over the last week or two, the classified briefings that I have been to, and if the public knew what members of Congress know…”

“Why don’t they?” Cuomo interrupted. “If it’s that important that it’s going to make people not go to the inauguration… shouldn’t people know?”


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/elijah-cummings-if-the-public-knew-what-congress-knows-they-would-boycott-the-inauguration-too/

[In_The_Wind]

1. Kick

[HopeAgain]

2. We need heroes

who will leak this stuff.

[cstanleytech]

7. They could take a page out of the Republican books and read it out on the floor couldnt they?

That way they have legal protection from revealing classified information or atleast thats the way I was reading a few years ago when one of the Republicans pulled that stunt in the Senate I believe.

[yurbud]

99. Mike Gravel did that with the Pentagon Papers. When will Dems learn that while they are dotting I's

and crossing T's, Republicans are firing up the chainsaws to come after them?

[yurbud]

100. Mike Gravel did that with the Pentagon Papers. When will Dems learn that while they are dotting I's

and crossing T's, Republicans are firing up the chainsaws to come after them?

[Sherman A1]

3. K&R

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. The information will come out. Truth wants to be free and finds ways to be free.

The Trump administration will be marked by scandals that will make Watergate, Teapot Dome, and Mobilier-Credit pale in comparison.

[Jeroen]

56. Eventually, but it could take decades n/t

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. Good god Cummings (et al) you took an oath of office! "The public" is who you work for!

And since I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition, I'll rephrase that: "The public" is who you work for, a**hole!

[longship]

49. "since I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition"

"This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put." Winston Churchill

[leapinggnome]

61. Actually

the phrase wasn't "bloody nonsense" but "errant pedantry." Of which I am also guilty, namely with this reply

[longship]

63. Your version is the way I remember it.

However, Google apparently disagrees.

Quotations like this tend to morph.


My best to you.

[Maraya1969]

54. How long does it take to get information from the "Freedom of information" act

And I hope people have already started the process

[matt819]

6. Then fucking release the intelligence

Yes, I know all about sources and methods. I lived that life for more than a decade. But this is just too damned important.

Release the information. Today.

[DK504]

50. Exactly !!!!!!!

I feel like everything I hear from the media is: blah, blah.... Blah, blah, blah, blah.

Release the information. Do this Intelligence agencies really think we want a traitor and collaborator in the WH.

[BadgerMom]

52. +1

[LiberalLovinLug]

62. +1000

You just know that Republicans would be shouting about it at the top of their lungs if the shoe were on the other foot.

But Democrats have to never colour outside the lines. By the time any of it leaks out, the nation will be in full scale war footing with corporate news pushing the nationalist call to arms 24/7 and this will be irrelevant past history.

[deminks]

8. Release the information- The public must know! Innuendo serves no one.

Let the chips fall where they may.

[christx30]

22. Right?!

It's like a woman's friend saying, "if you knew what I knew about your husband, you'd never have unprotected sex with him again."

If the information is that vital and terrible, either tell us (you know, the people whose tax money is going to go towards what Cheeto wants for the next 4 years), or shut up.
If there was illegal assistance between Russia and the Trump campaign, get it out there so he can be charged with a crime.

[HopeAgain]

33. Gotta admit, that's a GREAT analogy... n/t

[raccoon]

98. I second that emotion. nt

[ProudProgressiveNow]

81. +1 nt

[mopinko]

9. for fuck sake! somebody leak already.

considering what we ALREADY know, for god sakes, we need the truth.

[Glimmer of Hope]

39. I don't understand why this hasn't happened yet. It must happen soon, right?

[wishstar]

10. He would lose his position of access if he revealed content of classified briefings

Says he is attending as a witness to history and is trying to avoid being accused of partisanship by pleading with Repubs for public hearings since Trump/Russia matters are too serious to be characterized as a partisan squabble.

For months, Repubs have succeeded in tying hands of Dems who know anything by only allowing private classified briefings since Repubs know that anything leaked is not given the credibility of public hearings

[bdamomma]

11. We need to know

it's part of their job to tell us, oh yes we have our own theories here at DU. If this was about Comey and the FBI we know this was part of coup. These leaks will come out.

And then you have that witch Kellyanne saying they want to protect Americans and not to tell them the truth. THAT IS TOTAL BS.

so if Cummings is saying what the Congress knows would stop them from going to the Inauguration then why give this filthy man the oath????

[bdamomma]

12. K&R

[amuse bouche]

13. Leak it...Leak it...Leak it

Congress works for us. We have a right to know.

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. Trump's supporters aren't going to care.

They don't care about anything except getting even. And making all the money they can while they can.

[xor]

60. Agreed. Nothing will change the average Trump supporter's opinion

They could release video of Putin and Trump planning everything from hacking emails to hacking the voting machines themselves, and they would still defend it somehow.

[leftyladyfrommo]

67. How about Putin and Trump having sex?

Naw. That would be fake news that was photoshopped.

[harun]

71. Yeah, but they are the minority.

[MontanaMama]

15. LEAK IT!!!

Somebody. Please. Now is the time. De-ligitimize this vile man.

[CanonRay]

16. Maybe if we had it, this dumb fuck would not be getting sworn in?

[dhill926]

46. I know

what in the bloody hell is going on here. Disgusting.

[democrank]

17. I'm hoping someone who has been briefed on this is working behind the scenes

to lead a truth-seeking reporter in the right direction.

[saidsimplesimon]

18. "If the public knew..."

Where was the public during this last election? How can so few determine the leadership of a nation once represented by the lady with a beacon of light on the shores of NYC? "Something Wicked This Way Comes", it is my duty to resist.

[CrispyQ]

19. In 24 hours, the takeover of our government will be complete & the dems will be complicit.

They haven't been a true opposition party for 35 years. Look for unprecedented voter disenfranchisement the next few years as the GOP finagles a few more state governments & secures permanent power at the fed level. We are fucked unless someone falls on their sword & puts the country first.

[YOHABLO]

89. You mean like Ed Snowden and Chelsea Manning?

[Perseus]

20. We need Congress 9/11-type panel, Cummings concluded.

No we don't, that was a sham...What we need is democratic politicians with balls to tell the people what is going on and why these mad men should not take the power they don't deserve.

[underpants]

21. Cuomo was taken aback when Cummings said "when some of this information comes out

many people will not consider this a legitimate Presidency" --paraphrased

I was watching it and Cuomo had a WHOA! look on his face.

[Alice11111]

58. Internally inconsistent statement

Come on , YOU are better than this. You are going, but most wouldn't if they knew what you know. You are sounding a bit like trump...convoluted, passive aggressive.
Quit hinting, like Rudy Gulianni, oh I know so much...and then later. I didn't know a thing.
Have the guts, take the risk, and stand up for God's sake.
Be a patriot, . , rather than a coward

[Raster]

23. THEN TELL US, DAMNIT! Tell us EVERYTHING!

I am sick and fucking tired of all of this "ohhh, decorum, rule of law, tradition....BULLSHIT! We are the victims of a coup with foreign AND DOMESTIC enemies nipping at the heels of our Republic.

TELL US! NOW! Tell us before the madman takes the Oath of Office.

TELL US!

TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, INTELLIGENCE SERVICES AND OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT:

Tell US! If you do not tell us everthing you know, THEN YOU ARE JUST AS CORRUPT AS THEY ARE!

[SHRED]

28. AHMEN

[triron]

37. +1

[Orrex]

32. Thread win.

If a Republican had damning info that would seriously damage Obama's presidency, does anyone think that the Republican wouldn't be spreading the word from coast to coast 24/7?

While we're so busy "going high," Republicans are laying the groundwork to destroy the country.

[Raster]

35. I am over this "go high" bullshit. No offense to the OBAMAs, but the barbarians are past...

...the gates and are heading into our homes. It is time for us to stand up on our feet and be counted.

TELL US NOW!

[cbdo2007]

45. Anyone withholding this information is committing treason. They are letting this happen.

[Raster]

73. I HEARTILY CONCUR!

This is our country too...

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

74. + about a million

This is unconscionable.

[ffr]

24. Right there with you. 66 million, the majority, got it right and weren't hoodwinked.

We're more sophisticated than your typical frothing at the mouth rabid RW voter, that will believe anything the RW spews out, because it's what they want to hear. Life was never designed to be that simplistic. Play the part of someone else's fool at your own peril.



There's your sign, Joe and Jan Hoodwink! We know who you are.

[triron]

38. Good graphic!

[Feeling the Bern]

25. We're all ears, Elijah. Put up or shut up. Tired of this "if you only knew" shit

Enough.

[Raster]

40. Enough!

Unfortunately even some of the good guys are blinded by the bullshit and blather, and cannot see the forward.


...and whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

[2naSalit]

26. K&R

[SHRED]

27. I'm sick of the teasing

Public officials are sworn to defend this country.

What is going on here?

[pangaia]

29. We need this NOW ! Stop begging repubs to do something.

Blackmail them if you have to, but do SOMETHING. That's what THEY do. It already is probably too late.

How difficult is it to get something leaked? I mean, it has been known to happen.. duh !!

Are you telling me you guys don't have shit on McConnell, for example? Give me a break.

[onethatcares]

30. let us know

i'm tired of this bullllshit.

i'm of the persuasion that our dear old republic is a sham and has been for a while

[drray23]

31. Given that congress has been briefed and thats a lot of people

Im not sure if it was for the whole congress or members of certain commitees. Either way its a lot of people and I expect that the contents of these briefings will get leaked to the press at some point.

[cbdo2007]

43. The problem is that it is too late. Election is over. Trump will be Pres tomorrow and if he gets imp

impeached, Pence will be President. Or the Republican controlled House will pick the President. They should have disclosed this 6 months ago. I'm guessing many in Congress already knew which is why so many of them were withholding their support of Trump at the time.

[mobeau69]

34. Video of Interview

[SamKnause]

36. I am sick and tired of this shit.

What is the purpose of having a government elected by the people if;

If the people are always in the dark ???

If the people are never allowed to know the truth ???

If the guilty are protected and never punished ???

If the the facts are buried for 40, 50, or 99 years ???

[itcfish]

41. Why Doesn't Congress

Tell the American people what they know. They are our representatives. We should be informed.

[cbdo2007]

42. They should have told us before the election. They knowingly and willingly got him elected...

by withholding information.

It was the voter's right to know that he was under FBI and CIA investigation, they dont' just keep that a secret because then if he gets elected they knew it would lead to chaos, and maybe that's what they were hoping for.

The FBI, CIA, and even the Obama Administration are all complicit in this. President Obama could have made a recess appointment to the Supreme Court KNOWING THIS INFORMATION and he still did not do this. Now the Supreme Court could very well be the deciding entity for whether or not Trump's election stands.

[LovingA2andMI]

44. This is some BS!

"If the public knew what we knew?" WTF is up with that? Why can't we be told? Now? This Moment? What a bunch of spin like BS?

[sarcasmo]

47. We want that information.

[WinkyDink]

48. As even GHWB once said, Sarah, if the American people ever find out what we have done, they would

chase us down the street and lynch us.”

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/4/3/1199001/-Jeb-Bush-Oliver-North-and-the-Murder-of-CIA-Drug-Smuggler-Barry-Seal-in-1986

[JPPaverage]

51. Great question by Cuomo

Tell us Cummings. We the public have a right to know.

[Eliot Rosewater]

53. Oops, I did another thread on this.

Simpy unacceptable, completely and entirely that we dont have this information.

We must DEMAND it somehow, but how?

[MrPurple]

55. The problem could be that the intel would reveal the secret assets who got it

[Achilleaze]

57. Boycott the illegitimate Republican-Russian regime

[hamsterjill]

59. We need a Deep Throat!!!!

The Democrats are going to have to figure out a way to get the information out to the public.

WE THE PEOPLE have a right to know.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

64. If it is that damaging it is the obligation of our elected officials to inform the electorate, NOW!!

Any foreign hostile power already has this information it is only being kept secret from we the sheep.

Keep us in the dark and feed us bullshit!

[cjbgreen]

65. Republicans and Democrats

The Republicans and Democrats have an obligation to demand the release of the information Cummings is referencing. During Watergate there was a bi-partisan investigation of Nixon. Peaceful transition of government should not be defined as accepting the results of an election that where: votes were flipped, voters were prevented from voting, information was with held, or the nominee or nominees are unqualified based on criminal or illegal activities.

[annabanana]

66. So the entire Republican conference is cowardly. . .

and probably treasonous.

[Generator]

68. Holy fuck

Well I'm going into lockdown tomorrow. No TV, No social media, no DU. I plan to protest tomorrow and then wait for the world to end. (like it would be quick-I'm sure we have to watch the country be destroyed slowly and then all wake up poorer than ever) I woke up this morning thinking why should anyone save us? We didn't save the hundreds of thousands in Syria. (not that we necessarily could have but my point is the rest of humanity gets their worlds torn to shreds-why are we the exception-because we aren't going to be) Or fill in the country. We have been smug and certain we are better than the rest of the world. We are punks that have elected a reality tv conman traitor and yes Obama is giving him the nuclear codes. I didn't have the power to stop this. These people we elected do. And they have failed us and the entire world.

[murielm99]

77. I am going into lockdown, too.

I will listen to music and clean the house while I still have a house to clean.

I have fought this kind of crap my whole life. I wonder if, at 68, I have any fight left in me.

[llmart]

91. I'm with both of you...

I'd already decided not to turn on the radio or TV (I don't have cable and watch next to no TV, so I'm used to it), but I don't even want to hear a blip about "him" at all. I, too, am almost 68 and we've seen a lot of shit once we reach this age, but this is the worst political crisis I've ever seen, and I've seen Kent State, the Kennedy's and Dr. King being assassinated, 9/11 under W's watch, VietNam, so for me to say this is the worst is saying something.

Maybe being older and wiser and now being a grandmother, I just can't fathom what happened to my country.

[Maven]

69. Then TELL THE PUBLIC

WE HAVE A GODDAMN RIGHT TO KNOW. Congress works for US, remember?

[GoneOffShore]

70. Make the briefings public.

[Vinca]

72. THEN WHY ARE THEY LETTING THIS HAPPEN???????????

(Yes, I'm yelling.)

[EllieBC]

75. Dumb question from me.

Why is no one saying what it is?

Would they be prosecuted????

[wishstar]

82. Yes, they are fearful of being prosecuted for revealing classified information

[EllieBC]

83. What this whole thing has taught me is

that Russia could basically fuck over any country and manipulate their elections. And that is something that EVERY nation needs to be aware of and concerned over.

And I am hoping that this show called the Inauguration tomorrow is just that. Just a show because Congress already has something in the works to get rid of Trump but they are afraid to cancel the show.

[Chakaconcarne]

86. I heard on NPR that Putin has plans to hack other countries elections to see that....

far right leaderships are in power....and these far right leaderships will say... well, it's Putin.. nothing we can do about that...

It's begun.... I don't know that we will ever stop it.

[PoliticAverse]

93. Not if they revealed it during a session of Congress or otherwise

as part of their legislative acts. They are protected specifically by a provision of the Constitution referred to
as "the speech or debate clause"...

Article I, Section 6, Clause 1, of the U.S. Constitution states in part,

for any Speech or Debate in either House, they [senators and representatives] shall not be questioned in any other place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_or_Debate_Clause

At most they could be expelled from Congress.

This is the protection Mike Gravel had when he revealed the Pentagon Papers material to the public by reading
it out loud...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravel_v._United_States

[humbled_opinion]

76. Let us know... get it out

or introduce impeachment proceedings on day one.

[get the red out]

78. I figured there was a LOT more

I guessed there was a lot more that hadn't been revealed to the public. Pee-gate was just the comic relief of this horror story.

[PoliticAverse]

79. "Why dont they?" - aren't there any current Democrats with the courage of Mike Gravel?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravel_v._United_States

[ProudProgressiveNow]

80. K&R nt

[adigal]

84. At least Cuomo wants to tell us, unlike Chuck Todd

who scolded the head of Buzzfeed for the document dump.

[Jake Stern]

85. Ironically, this is the kind of malfeasance that Wikileaks was supposedly founded to fight.

Yet all we get are crickets from Julian Asshole.

Even if he had them, the cowardly sex offender wouldn't drop files on his pals RasPutin and TrumpenFuhrer.

[trueblue2007]

87. WHY DON'T WE KNOW THE TRUTH !!!! I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON

[PoliticAverse]

94. Apparently some people think we "can't handle the truth". n/t

[Leith]

88. I Don't Like Being Teased

Tell us or don't. Just don't keep saying that you have amazing info that you can't tell us about orange boy.

[Crash2Parties]

90. At what point does the Judiciary step in? All it would take is one Dem to start it...

[David Williams]

92. Russian Attack

What's the chances that a Russian has infiltrated the White House ?

[meadowlander]

95. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

96. I'm listening.

Spill it.

[compsports]

97. What can we do?

I agree with the sentiments in the thread that this information needs to be released yesterday.

Do we call our Representatives and Senators every day to put pressure on them to do this? What else can we do?

[brush]

101. Come of, Anonymous, isn't this what you guys are supposed to be good at?

Or are you all talk and no action?

Find this stuff and leak it.