Two Senate Republicans on Thursday called for a special counsel to investigate whether former President Obama helped an effort to undermine President Trump’s 2016 White House bid.
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) are pushing for the appointment, saying they want answers about how Obama and his administration “manipulated” matters in the hopes of a Hillary Clinton victory in 2016.
It follows the White House’s Wednesday release of documents related to Russia’s effort to influence the 2016 election. That has prompted criticism that the administration is seeking a distraction.
But the White House is attempting to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein controversy on multiple fronts, even as House Republicans joined Democrats to call for more transparency in the situation.
The House left town on Wednesday, but not before an Oversight subcommittee voted to issue subpoenas that direct the Justice Department to hand over Epstein case materials and call on several high-profile politicians. Three Republicans voted with Democrats on the subpoenas.
President Trump on Thursday will take a tour of the Federal Reserve, to see for himself the multibillion-dollar renovation of which has stoked calls for Chair Jerome Powell’s resignation.
Catch up:
- GOP dysfunction over Epstein leaves Senate Republicans angry with House
- Trump document dumps raise questions of distraction
- Democrats to Obama: Don’t get in the mud with Trump
Follow along all day for updates.
