Today several witnesses related to the investigation of Trump’s involvement with Russia testified before the Senate. One of these individuals was Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. When he refused to answer a ‘yes or no’ question, the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Republican Richard Burr, chastised Democrats from demanding a direct answer to a direct question.

Most of Burr’s attacks were focused upon California Senator Kamala Harris; one of only three women on the committee. I usually do not post a long series of quotes, but in this instance, I think they are self explanatory, and need to be read.

Her question appeared to allow for a simple answer. She asked Rosenstein if special counsel Robert Mueller would have the same independence from the Justice Department granted to Patrick Fitzgerald in 2003, when he was the special prosecutor in the Valerie Plame case. Rosenstein refused to answer ‘yes or no.’

“Senator, I’m very sensitive about time and I’d like to have a very lengthy conversation and explain that all to you,” Rosenstein told Harris.

“Can you give me a ‘yes or no’ answer?” Harris responded.

“It’s not a short answer, senator,” Rosenstein said.

“It is. Either you are willing to do that or you are not,” she responded, cutting his answer short.

Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona then cut off Harris.

“Mr. Chairman, they should be allowed to answer the question,” McCain said, which was the second time he had interjected during Democratic questions — the first time was during Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.

Rosenstein then started discussing how Fitzgerald could have been fired and the integrity of Mueller and himself to let Mueller’s probe proceed properly. Harris continued with her questioning, “Are you willing or are you not willing to give him the authority to be fully independent of your ability, statutorily or legally, to fire him?

“He has the…” Rosenstein began.

“Yes or no, sir,” Harris pressed. She added, “Are you willing to do …”

“Will the senator suspend?” Burr interjected. “The chair is going to exercise its right to allow the witnesses to answer the question, and the committee is on notice to provide the witnesses the courtesy, which has not been extended all the way across, extend the courtesy for questions to get answered.

“Mr. Chairman, respectfully, I would point out that this witness has joked, as we all have, his ability to filibuster,” Harris argued, before Burr stopped her again.

“The senator will suspend,” Burr said. “Mr. Rosenstein, would you like to thoroughly answer the question?”

“Thank you, senator, I’m not joking,” Rosenstein said. “The truth is I have a lot of experience with these issues and I could speak to you for a very long time about it.”

Rosenstein gave a lengthy answer, but it did not satisfy Harris.

“So, is that a no?” she said.

Rosenstein did not answer.

“Sen. Cornyn,” Burr said, moving on to questions from the next senator on the panel, Republican John Cornyn of Texas.

Republicans are obviously making enormous efforts to cover-up the truth by hiding the facts.

I also have no doubt that a part of this is a reflection of the “good old boys club” in Washington to demean women in the House and Senate. Stories from women who serve in Washington are endless about how old, white men continue to reject the authority and intelligence of women. Misogyny is alive and well in our nation’s capital.

Regardless of the truth, the American people demand it. Robert Mueller cannot conduct his investigation if he is stymied by the Justice Department which works for Trump. Collusion cannot be allowed.

I once disliked Republicans; today I despise them.

Please re-post; thank you.

Op-ed

By James Turnage

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