WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s angry tweets this week about the growing Russia investigation and the federal raid of the president’s personal lawyer has jump-started an effort backed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and a growing number of senators to try to prevent Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s firing.
James Comey
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Sessions tells Blumenthal he’s had no contact from Mueller in Russia probe
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Attorney General Jeff Sessions played a game of political cat and mouse Wednesday during a Senate Judiciary oversight hearing, with the Democratic senator pressing Sessions on whether he’d been contacted for questioning by special counsel Robert Mueller. Blumenthal finally got a no from Sessions.
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Blumenthal pans Donald Trump Jr.’s testimony in Senate Russia probe
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal listened to Donald Trump Jr. testify for five hours in a closed-door Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday, but says he’s not satisfied with the responses. He said the president’s eldest son “raised more questions than he answered.”
Posted inJustice, Politics
Blumenthal backs Wray, foresees ‘a firestorm’ for FBI
Wray, 50, told senators on the Judiciary panel that he would quit if Trump asked him to do anything illegal. He also said he did not consider special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into whether there were Russian ties to the Trump campaign “a witch hunt.”
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Blumenthal: Let Judiciary panel take crack at close-mouthed Sessions
Washington – Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee had plenty of questions for Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday, but few were answered. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who was not on the panel, said he wants a chance to to try to wrest information from the close-mouthed attorney general.
Posted inJustice
Blumenthal calls Comey’s tale ‘chilling;’ Murphy says Trump should testify
WASHINGTON – This city was transfixed Thursday by former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony to Senate Intelligence Committee and Sen. Richard Blumenthal was among those had a front-row seat during the riveting three hours of questioning. He said Comey painted a “chilling picture” of his contacts with President Donald Trump.
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Blumenthal: Comey testimony shows Trump ‘disdain’ for rule of law
WASHINGTON — During Senate debate Wednesday on legislation that would tighten U.S. sanctions on Iran, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said former FBI Director James Comey’s accounts of meetings with Donald Trump may explain why the president is not pressing for tougher sanctions against Russia.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Himes: Comey testimony raises questions about Trump’s ability to enforce the law
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Himes said former FBI Director James Comey’s prepared testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee “should have us all asking a fundamental question about whether we can trust this president to uphold and enforce the laws of the United States.”
Posted inJustice, Politics
McCain ‘disappointed’ by reports Lieberman no longer in running for FBI
WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain of Arizona said Wednesday he is “disappointed” by reports former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman is no longer under consideration to head the FBI. He said Democrats’ rejection of Lieberman, a former Democrat who was Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate, would make anyone “cynical” about Washington.
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Trump picks Lieberman associate Kasowitz as personal lawyer in Russia probe
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s decision to hire New York attorney Marc Kasowitz to serve as his private lawyers during federal and congressional Russia probes has hurt Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman’s chances of becoming the next FBI chief.
Posted inJustice
‘Joementum’ slows as Dems criticize Lieberman as possible FBI choice
WASHINGTON – Momentum slowed Friday on the expected nomination of former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman to head the FBI as the White House decided to postpone an announcement of President Donald Trump’s pick for the job held by James Comey before his firing.
Posted inJustice
Trump says Lieberman front-runner to head FBI
Updated at 7:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday said former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman is his top pick to replace ousted FBI chief James Comey. There has been no official White House announcement of the nomination, but one is expected soon.
Posted inJustice, Politics
DOJ bows to Blumenthal, other Dems in tapping Mueller to head Russia probe
The campaign for a special prosecutor was led by Democrats, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who voted against the confirmation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein because the nominee would not commit to the appointment of a special prosecutor. But a steady stream of Republicans joined that campaign this week.
Posted inPolitics
Trump interviews Lieberman for job as FBI director
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump interviewed former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman Wednesday as a candidate to replace fired FBI Director James Comey, a White House official said.
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Blumenthal: Trump request of Comey ‘obstruction of justice’
WASHINGTON — Reacting to a report that President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to call off the investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday “We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time.”