Happening Now: Sally Yates and James Clapper Testify On ‘Russian Interference’ – Grassley Grills

For the past several hours, former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper have been testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions regarding alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US Election.

Yates was famously fired after refusing to enforce Trump’s travel ban Executive Order in January, stating:

The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel.

Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.

Here are some of the highlights surrounding today’s hearing:

President Trump fired off an early morning Tweet before the hearing, suggesting the committee ask Yates if she knows how classified info leaked to newspapers;

Ask Sally Yates, under oath, if she knows how classified information got into the newspapers soon after she explained it to W.H. Counsel.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017

Senator Graham (R-SC) opened by asking Clapper and Yates whether either had evidence which would confirm collusion between the Trump team and the Kremlin. Clapper said no, and Yates refused to answer – saying it would reveal classified info.

Clapper opened by suggesting Russia must be very happy with themselves:

Clapper: Russia "must be congratulating themselves for having exceeded their wildest expectations" https://t.co/vktuPvsZr8 pic.twitter.com/HO77f1oIq1

— POLITICO (@politico) May 8, 2017

Yates said she made the determination that the travel ban was unlawful:

Sally Yates said she made determination as acting AG that Pres. Trump's travel ban was "unlawful": https://t.co/Okz2bwUl4f pic.twitter.com/Pc7uiUTNxt

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 8, 2017

But then Senator Kennedy (R-LA) asked Yates “Who appointed you to the United States Supreme Court?”

Senator Kennedy asks Sally Yates, "who appointed you to the United States Supreme Court?" https://t.co/N2XqdigO37 https://t.co/duaEAZYAko

— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) May 8, 2017

On her recommendation to be careful of incoming Nat. Sec. Advisor Flynn, Yates said that he could be blackmailed by the Russians:

Yates: "…the National Security Adviser, essentially, could be blackmailed by the Russians." —via @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/DTIAQcZ6y0

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 8, 2017

Yates testified that she had two meetings in person at the White House and one phone call regarding Flynn, including a discussion of “potential prosecution.”

From Axios:

Yates’ reasoning for telling the White House about Flynn:

• “The underlying conduct that Gen. Flynn had engaged in was problematic in and of itself.”
• “We felt that the Vice President and others were entitled to know that the information they were conveying to the American people was untrue.”
• “We were concerned that the American people had been misled about the underlying conduct and what Gen. Flynn had done.”
• “The Russians also knew what Gen. Flynn had done and that Gen. Flynn had misled the Vice President and others…that created a compromise situation — a situation where the national security advisor essentially could be blackmailed by the Russians.”

Yates says "yes," she discussed criminal prosecution of Flynn with WH counsel #YatesHearing pic.twitter.com/TqxULkPlbI

— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) May 8, 2017

Both Yates and Clapper deny being the source of the leaks:

Former DNI Clapper, former acting AG Yates deny ever being anonymous source in press reports on Trump or associates https://t.co/VO91R4PRlb pic.twitter.com/bk2RkRnNgm

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 8, 2017

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) grilled Yates and Clapper on unmasking:

Will update as the hearing progresses…

 

If you enjoy the content at iBankCoin, please follow us on Twitter