Marsha Blackburn probes VA chief Denis McDonough on role in FBI’s Trump-Russia probe
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is investigating the role of current Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former Obama administration Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, in the Trump-Russia investigation. McDonough was one of a handful of officials to receive a Situation Room briefing on the investigation in August 2016, days after it was opened by the FBI. Blackburn wants to know if McDonough had a hand in directing surveillance efforts of members of the Trump campaign team. While the Justice Department later cleared Trump of conspiring with Russia, evidence was found that Moscow conducted efforts on its own to influence the election’s outcome in the 45th president’s favor. Blackburn is asking McDonough to respond to a series of questions, including whether White House officials gave any orders or directives to the FBI during the meeting, and whether Obama was briefed on the investigation. McDonough had previously forgotten about his involvement in the meeting and has promised to review his records.
FAQs:
What is the Trump-Russia investigation?
The Trump-Russia investigation was an investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
What was McDonough’s role in the investigation?
McDonough was present at a Situation Room briefing on the investigation in August 2016. Blackburn is investigating whether he had a hand in directing surveillance efforts of members of the Trump campaign team.
What did the investigation find?
The investigation found that while the Justice Department later cleared Trump of conspiring with Russia, evidence was found that Moscow conducted efforts on its own to influence the election’s outcome in the 45th president’s favor.
What is Blackburn’s investigation?
Blackburn is investigating McDonough’s role in the Trump-Russia investigation and wants him to respond to a series of questions regarding his involvement.
What is McDonough’s current role?
McDonough is currently the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Biden administration.
Denis McDonough questioned by Marsha Blackburn about involvement in FBI’s investigation on Trump-Russia affair in the VA.
Senator Marsha Blackburn is investigating Denis McDonough, the current Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the Biden administration, over his participation in the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s alleged collusion with Russia in 2016. Blackburn is seeking to clarify what role McDonough played in the investigation and whether he directed any surveillance efforts. McDonough attended a Situation Room briefing on the investigation, along with other top officials in the Obama administration, shortly after the FBI began its probe. Blackburn has written a letter to McDonough, asking him to respond to a series of questions regarding his involvement by the June 15 deadline. The questions also focus on whether the White House gave any orders or directives to the FBI regarding the investigation. In addition, Blackburn is seeking to understand why former President Barack Obama was briefed on the investigation and whether there were any legal concerns related to the Obama administration’s involvement in the probe. A 2019 Justice Department watchdog report first revealed McDonough’s presence at the meeting.