By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin is calling for an investigation in Congress and the Department of Justice Inspector General to produce materials relating to a decision in the Trump-era DOJ.
According to Durbin, the Trump-era DOJ allegedly ordered metadata of House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence members, their staff, and family members who were investigating Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.
Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Durbin said it ‘crosses the line’ if it’s true.
“Corruption is one thing, no excuses, but when it comes to putting political pressure with the Department of Justice, it’s another. Then comes the basic question,” who ordered this?” Was this the (former) President’s idea? Well, we’re not sure. Because both Attorney’s General have publicly said, ‘we didn’t know about it.’ (Former AG’s) Barr and Sessions didn’t know about it.
And you say, ‘then clearly it was a White House job.’ Then the President must of been the one who ordered it.”
This week, Sen. Democratic Whip Durbin joined 10 other Democrats in the Senate Judiciary Committee by drafting a letter to Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland requesting the AG provide the Committee with an immediate briefing on the matter.
“What I’m trying to get into, and I think the American people have a right to know, is, what’s happening here? Is the President trying to use the Department of Justice for political purposes, or is there some logical explanation that we’re missing?”
According to the letter, the Senate Judiciary Committee is “vigorously investigating” the effort to “weaponize DOJ against Trump’s perceived political enemies.”
Read the letter here:
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
