NEWS

Rokita on special counsel: ‘Put these falsehoods to bed’

Dave Bangert
Journal & Courier
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita

Where has Greater Lafayette’s congressional delegation lined up in recent days, as President Donald Trump was suspected of sharing classified information with Russian diplomats in the Oval Office and the Justice Department appointing former FBI director Robert Mueller to oversee an investigation into ties between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials?

Here are their statements made in the past few days.

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U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a Brownsburg Republican from the 4th District, said this about the special counsel appointment:

“Beyond the intelligence committees finishing their work, we are hopeful that the special counsel, led by Rob Mueller, will focus solely on the facts and real, tangible evidence. Partisan politics has been driving this entire process with misinformation and false attacks. This investigation should put these falsehoods to bed. We must move past this. President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Republicans in Congress have a bold agenda to create jobs, fix health care and give all Americans a brighter future”

Previously in the week, as questions about whether Trump had share classified information with Russian officials, Rokita issued this statement:

“Every day Washington liberals throw some new phony attack at the wall to see what sticks. While they play political games, the Middle East is on fire and Iran has been empowered. North Korea is threatening the world. Russia has never been more influential since the fall of the Berlin Wall. All of this is because of the naive, failed foreign policy of the Obama administration and Washington liberals including Joe Donnelly. They've made America less safe. I have confidence that President Trump, Vice President (Mike) Pence, Secretary (of State Rex) Tillerson, Secretary (of Defense James) Mattis, Director (of National Intelligence Dan) Coats and our intelligence and law enforcement agencies will keep America safe."

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U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, said this about Mueller’s appointment:

“I am pleased to hear that the Department of Justice has named a special counsel to lead a comprehensive investigation into Russian interference in our election. Hoosiers deserve answers, and I am sure that Mr. Mueller will follow the facts wherever they lead.”

Earlier in the week, Donnelly said this about reports about Trump sharing classified intelligence:

 “This White House needs to get its act together. This information should never have been shared with the Russians or anyone else without the okay of whoever shared it with us. Lives are on the line in the fight against ISIS and other extremist adversaries. This isn’t a game.”

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U.S. Sen. Todd Young, a Republican, released this statement Thursday, after a briefing by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Mueller’s appointment:

“The briefing the Senate received today from the Justice Department was a helpful step toward understanding where the department stands as it brings in special counsel. Robert Mueller is a Marine and a man of great integrity. I'm confident that he will faithfully pursue the facts in the criminal investigation.”

 “It is also my hope that the Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence will continue to work in a bipartisan manner on their counterintelligence investigation. Meanwhile, we in Congress have a job to do, and I'll continue working with both Republicans and Democrats to address the challenges our nation faces.”

On questions about classified information, Young said:

 “As a former Marine Corps intelligence officer, I take reports regarding the divulgence of classified information very seriously. I think it's essential that the bi-partisan investigations in the Intelligence Committees move forward and the administration cooperates fully.”

Reach Dave Bangert at 765-420-5258 or at dbangert@gannett.com.