Sanders: Trump is ‘impeding’ Russia probe

Sanders: Trump is ‘impeding’ Russia probe

By Mark Hensch - 05/10/17 07:05 PM EDT

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Wednesday that President Trump is “impeding” the FBI’s probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, specifically citing his decision to fire FBI director James Comey.

“It is a situation where the president is impeding a significant investigation,” Sanders said on CNN’s “The Situation Room." "[It’s] to determine whether, in fact, there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.”

Sanders cited recent elections in France, Germany and Ukraine as evidence of Russia’s tampering with democracy.

“Our intelligence agencies all agree that [Russia] interfered significantly in the American election,” Sanders said. “This is an investigation that has to go forward in a nonpartisan way."

The White House announced Tuesday that Trump had fired Comey on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein.

Trump’s decision stunned Washington, with some questioning the timing of the dismissal.

Comey announced in March that the FBI was probing Russian intrusions in the 2016 race, including possible ties between Trump’s campaign and Moscow.

Reports emerged Wednesday that Comey requested more money and personnel for the FBI’s investigation shortly before being fired. He made the request last week during a meeting with Rosenstein, who ultimately authored the memo justifying the former’s firing.

The Justice Department’s top spokeswoman on Wednesday denied that Comey had requested either more funds or resources.

“[It’s] totally false,” Sarah Isgur Flores said of the reports.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3...g-russia-probe