As Russian probe heats up, DOJ decides to investigate Obama and Clinton
The traditionally independent Justice Department appears to get political as Trump calls for the investigation of his enemies
The traditionally independent Justice Department appears to get political as Trump calls for the investigation of his enemies
On Monday, the Department of Justice announced that it would be looking into allegations that a 2010 decision under the Obama administration to allow a Russian nuclear agency to buy a uranium company was tied to donations to the Clinton Foundation.
The company, Uranium One, owns access to uranium in the United States, and as the deal was made while Hillary Clinton was still secretary of state, conservatives have long been calling for Clinton and Obama to be investigated for this and other reasons.
The DOJ’s letter sent to the House Judiciary Committee seemed to be a direct response to President Donald Trump calling for the DOJ to investigate Clinton and others that he has deemed his political enemies.
–Trump believes Putin over his own intelligence agencies–
“These senior prosecutors will report directly to the attorney general and the deputy attorney general, as appropriate, and will make recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, or whether any matters merit a special counsel,” Stephen E. Boyd, an assistant attorney general, said in the letter to the House Judiciary Committee.
The timing of the letter is interesting, to say the least, as Attorney General Jeff Sessions is set to testify before Congress on Tuesday concerning his Russian contacts.
Sessions, who has come under fire as the man Trump blames for the Russia investigation, is expected to face serious questions about Russian contacts and his decision to recuse himself from the investigation.
It also raises questions about the independence of the DOJ, which is supposed to operate independently of politics. With this letter, it appears the department is caving to political pressure from Trump to investigate his enemies and distract from the ongoing Russia investigation.
