One word: Benghazi. Keep that in mind while reading this CNN report.
A growing number of key Republicans are sending this message to the leaders of the congressional committees investigating potential Trump campaign collusion with the Russians: Wrap it up soon.
In the House and Senate, several Republicans who sit on key committees are starting to grumble that the investigations have spanned the better part of the past nine months, contending that the Democratic push to extend the investigation well into next year could amount to a fishing expedition. The concerns are in line with ones raised by President Donald Trump, who has publicly and privately insisted he's the subject of a "witch hunt" on Capitol Hill and by special counsel Robert Mueller.
Benghazi. Seven million spent. Seven separate probes. Thirty-three separate hearings. Eight-hundred pages. Four years. Actual damning revelations: 0
Meanwhile, every week produces a new damning revelation about Donald Trump, his associates, his campaign team, their contacts with Russians, the extent of Russian influence on American media platforms, their attempted hacks of state elections, etc. But yeah, let's move this thing along:
Democrats, meanwhile, are raising their own concerns that the congressional Russia probes are rushing witnesses -- including the testimony of President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner -- as well as stalling appearances of other key Trump associates. [...]
"I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done this year," said Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican who sits on the intelligence and judiciary committees, calling for a final report in time to make changes ahead of the 2018 elections to prevent against more Russian cyberattacks.
Cornyn's worried about the 2018 elections, no doubt, and getting Russia out of the public eye. Unfortunately, the Department of Homeland Security is moving with the urgency of a slug to secure next year’s elections, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions admitted Wednesday that he doesn't even know who is heading up his agency's review of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and fixes.
Working to secure the 2018 elections and continuing the Russia probes are not mutually exclusive, unless you’re a Republican like John Cornyn.