The Justice Department’s appointment of a special counselor to investigate alleged Russian interference into the 2016 election hasn’t deterred Democratic calls for a separate independent commission.
“The value an independent commission adds is you have a body that is truly independent of any political consideration,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.
The Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to be special counsel on the FBI’s existing Russia investigation. Democrats applauded the appointment, but also want a separate independent bipartisan commission to look into Russia and the 2016 election.
Such a panel has “all the resources it needs and a single focus on what Russia did and how we need to respond in the future,” Schiff added.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., another member of the intelligence committee, echoed calls for an independent commission.
The panel would look into what Russia did during the campaign, “how we were so vulnerable and what reforms we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Swalwell said.
Swalwell and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., filed a discharge petition just hours before the special prosecutor was announced to force a House vote on an independent commission.
Swalwell said during a press conference earlier Wednesday that he is seeking a 12-member bipartisan commission that would have subpoena powers.
Some Republicans were cool to the commission idea.
“The reality is now let’s let this thing go forward and see what happens,” said Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said soon after Mueller was appointed. “If we want to start popping up investigations everywhere then it is never going to be solved.”
