Lawmakers launch new probe into 'complex web' of alleged ties between NRA, Russians

[DonViejo]

Source: ABC News


By Pete Madden and Matthew Mosk 25m ago

A pair of House Democrats are launching a new probe of what they called the “complex web of relationships” between members of the National Rifle Association and Russian individuals with close ties to the Kremlin.

In a letter members said they were sending to NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, a copy of which was shared with ABC News, Rep. Ted Lieu of California and Rep. Kathleen Rice of New York expressed concern about the NRA’s attempts to distance itself from any formal involvement in a now infamous trip to Moscow undertaken by a group of its high-ranking members.

While the NRA’s outside counsel William Brewer told The New York Times that LaPierre “was opposed to the trip” and even prohibited staff members from joining the delegation out of concern that it would be perceived as officially sanctioned, internal NRA emails and photos posted on social media reviewed by ABC News appear to show the organization was significantly involved in planning it.

Lieu, a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and Rice, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, suggested the discrepancy might be evidence of a broader deception and requested a full accounting of any communications, meetings and monetary transactions between NRA officials and Russia-linked individuals.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lawmakers-launch-probe-complex-web-alleged-ties-nra/story?id=61137356

[beachbum bob]

1. lots of action to hide/shield NRA and Russian connections especially to the run up of 2016

election where NRA had $$$$ show up for their PAC action on behalf of trump.

I think Russians/Putin forget that we have a way to find things out in America when we choose to do it.

[safeinOhio]

2. Walks like a duck...

Just might be a duck.

[Perseus]

3. With how overcrowded jails in the USA are today

The need to build a new jail facility seems to be shaping up. There are so many people from this corrupt administration who should and hopefully will go to jail, and those who conspired with them, that a new jail facility will have to be built to put them all in. Ivanka is ok, there is room for her in a women's jail, but the rest?

[PatSeg]

5. Or perhaps we can start releasing

a lot of nonviolent drug offenders and put the real criminals in jail.

[lastlib]

6. If space is an issue, she could share a cell....

with Maria Butina....

[deek]

10. Trump Penitentary

He loves to have his name on buildings.....

[Perseus]

11. Good one...

As long as he does not profit from it.

[jpak]

14. Tents in the Arizona desert - and some pink undies

What's good for the goose is good for the gander....

[Botany]

4. Ohio's Rob Portman come on down.

Russian money to the NRA then the NRA buys tv and social media ads and because
of Citizen's United this "dirty money" stays hidden.


Trump's firewall to stop all these investigations and criminal charges is all those republican
senators who took russian/nra money and or traveled to Russia last summer.

[duforsure]

7. They also need to have,

A Commission looking at all corruption that's running wild from trump and the Republicans, and any Democrats involved in it also.

[JudyM]

9. +1 Hopefully that's being developed right now. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation for our party.

[Iliyah]

8. While the Democrats are

investigating the perpetrators of NRA, Russia and the Republican party into damaging and destroying the USA's democracy, the Republican party continues to destroy our ICs and install unqualified nut cases into our legal courts and ICs.

[Fuzzpope]

12. Feel free to correct me, but

I see a fundamental flaw in these types of congressional inquiries, in the assumption that the suspected parties would cooperate in the slightest in self incrimination.

I don't see how they could possibly learn anything of tangible use unless the inquiry included evidence obtained in sting operations by law enforcement.

The NRA is going to laugh in their faces and lie through their teeth. I just don't see this being a productive use of our very limited congressional authority.

[SCVDem]

13. They have a cooperating witness

in Maria Butina.

I dislike the term "perjury trap", but here is their chance to get busted while bullshitting!

[Evolve Dammit]

15. Can somebody tell me why the congressional GOP contingent went to Russia last July 4th?

[riversedge]

16. Past time to get to the bottom of this corruption.