FBI's Trump-Russia probe knocks White House on its heels

[DonViejo]

Trump’s team scrambles to contain fallout as Comey confirms investigation and debunks wiretapping claim.

By SHANE GOLDMACHER and MATTHEW NUSSBAUM 03/20/17 01:43 PM EDT

Updated 03/21/17 09:23 AM EDT

The White House was knocked on the defensive ahead of its biggest week yet on Capitol Hill after FBI Director James Comey confirmed the existence of an active investigation into Russia’s meddling in the presidential election, including whether there was any coordination with now-President Donald Trump’s team.

The dramatic revelation, made at a Monday hearing of the House Intelligence Committee, dragged the Trump administration yet again back into uncomfortable territory just as it had hoped to highlight the smooth rollout of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, who began his confirmation hearings across the Capitol on Monday.

In another blow to Trump, Comey and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers also publicly refuted his unsubstantiated claims on Twitter that President Barack Obama had ordered a wiretap of Trump Tower phones. The leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees had said last week that Trump’s allegations were untrue.

“I have no information that supports those tweets, and we have looked carefully inside the FBI,” Comey said.

The president himself had an opportunity to respond on Monday, but Trump ignored the growing controversy while running a campaign style rally in Louisville, Kentucky, where he hit well-used talking points from his 2016 run and sought to rally Republicans to his cause. Trump praised an array of Republican leaders, including Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, and also noted that Republicans collectively had the most power as a party since the 1920s.

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https://secure.politico.com/story/2017/03/fbi-james-comey-trump-russia-hearing-236265

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Expect the rank and file supporters to double down on their desire to see ACA

destroyed and poor people killed.

It is anybody's guess if the Senate will approve, I am certain the house will approve the "kill poor people" healthcare bill

[hurple]

2. Perfect opportunity...

Dems should latch onto how he highlighted that the Repubs have more power than they've had as a party since the 1920's, so when the inevitable economic and social collapse follows the Republican policies they can point out that's the same thing that happened the last time Republicans had all the power in the 1920's.

Maybe some of the rubes will put 2 and 2 together.

[lastlib]

3. Agreed!

Save. That. Footage! Great Depression redux could make some awesome campaign ads!!