Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat in the House Intelligence Committee, floated the possibility of a new investigation in response to news that President Trump actively pursued lifting a gag order on an undercover FBI informant so he could testify to Congress about the Russian nuclear industry’s bribery and money laundering during the time of the Obama administration.
“If President personally intervened w DOJ to advance case against political opponent it’s beyond disturbing; I intend to pursue in new probe,” Schiff, D-Calif., tweeted Thursday night.
Trump instructed his senior staff “to facilitate the Justice Department’s full cooperation with Congress to lift the gag order,” a source told CNN. Don McGahn, White House counsel, then delivered the message to the Justice Department.
The Justice Department has certain restrictions preventing the White House from engaging in criminal law enforcement matters. It is not typical for the White House to be involved in these matters, especially in this case because it concerns Trump’s political opponents.
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