Democrats now in control of the crucial intelligence committee want to get back to their Russia probe. It can’t happen until the Republicans formally join.
How long are Republicans allowed to stall?
“There is an urgency in getting all of our transcripts to Mueller that we cannot ignore.”, Democratic committee aide
The House Republican leadership has yet to name the intelligence committee’s Republican membership for the new Congress, with the exception of retaining Devin Nunes as ranking Republican. Without doing so, the committee is stalled—no hearings, no internal business meetings.
This Republican intransigence was first noted by The Rachel Maddow Show.
It’s not clear what the holdup is. “That will be announced when it is ready,” said Matt Sparks, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who did not address the reasons for the delay. A representative for Nunes—who does not pick the membership—did not respond to The Daily Beast's inquiries.
FLASHBACK: GOP leaders laughed about Trump colluding with Russia even before WikiLeaks, Washington Post
“I’ll guarantee you that’s what it is. … The Russians hacked the DNC and got the opp [opposition] research that they had on Trump,”
“There’s two people, I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump. Swear to God,”
— Kevin McCarthy, (R-Calif.) June 2016
“This is an off the record. No leaks, all right? This is how we know we’re a real family here.”
— Paul Ryan
Leaving this billboard here for Kevin McCarthy! #Bakersfield #KernCounty