By Illinois Radio Network
WASHINGTON – Republican Congressman Darin LaHood, a former federal prosecutor, said the grand jury listening to witnesses in the federal probe into the Donald Trump campaign and Russia needs to be used appropriately.
LaHood said it is significant that a grand jury is listening to evidence in the monthslong investigation, but he also noted that the grand jury is just part of the process.
“If you have witnesses that have information that you may or may not use, have them come in,” LaHood said. “Put them under oath. They presumably tell the truth. You have that information locked down.”
LaHood urged witnesses not to lie to the FBI or Congress. He said simply not telling the truth to either one could earn lead to prison time.
The determining factor in what the grand jury does, LaHood said, depends on how special prosecutor Robert Mueller uses it.
“What I’ve said all along is Mueller hopefully takes the politics out of this,” LaHood said. “[He needs to] let the facts and evidence take it where it needs to go. Hopefully that is what will happen. And I have a lot of confidence that will be the way it goes.”
News of the grand jury broke last week. No one on Mueller’s team is saying exactly which witnesses have been called before the panel or how long the grand jury may sit and listen to evidence in the sprawling investigation into Trump’s campaign.
Federal investigators have said the Russian government intervened in last year’s presidential election to help Trump win. Trump and members of his campaign deny colluding with the Russians.
