Trump-Russia Collusion

TRUMP-RUSSIA COLLUSION

What will the investigation into Trump’s connections with Russia uncover?

On March 20th, 2017, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director James B. Comey and National Security Agency (NSA) Director Adm. Mike Rogers sat before a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing; investigating into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

 “I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts. As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed.”- James B. Comey March 20th, 2017.

What happened during the hearing?

During the hearing both Comey and Rogers dismissed claims that under President Obama’s administration any tapping was perpetrated against now President Donald Trump. He stated that the FBI and NSA in their investigations had not uncovered any information leading them to believe the act had been committed.

Comey also made a direct statement stating that the FBI was investigating relations between the two countries during the election campaign of Donald Trump, 2016. 

Both also said that Russia used ‘hybrid warfare’ to interfere with the elections of 2016 by spreading fake news, false consensus etc. As Republican Senator Devin Nunes said it ‘cast a cloud of smoke’ over the election process and the legitimacy of President Trump. Rogers said that Russia engaged in a direct cyber-attack on the USA during 2016 saying; “So we saw cyber used, we saw the use of external media, we saw the use of disinformation, we saw the use of leaking of information, much of which was not altered.”

The duo who were not legally and due to the investigation still being undertaken could not disclose information on specifics and who they were investigating. This lead to a barrage of questions from the Democratic members of the panel stating the links between the Trump campaign and the Russians.

What does this mean for President Donald Trump?

President Donald Trump’s legitimacy is quickly deteriorating in the face of his claims over having no connections to Russia and the fact that Obama tapped his phones being dismissed by the FBI and NSA. If the council and the FBI find evidence linking Trump directly to the interference in the 2016 elections, then it might spell trouble for the Trump presidency.

Multiple members of his active White house staff were named during the sessions from his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson to United States Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross. This has led to many in the American media and the public questioning his choices for Cabinet and maybe linking them to a possible Russian plan to aid Trump and aid hurt the American democratic process.

Assessment

President Trump has endured a testing couple of weeks in his attempts to deliver on his campaign promises. His proposed or ‘skinny’ budget increases military spending while massively cutting funding for the Environmental agencies and Agriculture. It has been ‘dead in the water’ and angered the people who voted for him. This metaphor extends to his proposed Health care bill which is seen to be a privatization of the health care sector and catering to the rich. In the face of his ban against Muslim-majority countries being blocked, the Russia allegations are the last thing the President would want. His legitimacy is in question and Democrats across the country are campaigning heavily now for his impeachment if any conclusive evidence is found. This testing couple of weeks could become a testing term if things continue at this rate.