Even though Upstate New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R) continually claims to be supportive of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the continued investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections, can she really be trusted? It’s easy to be rather skeptical, especially given Stefanik’s lengthy track record of expediency and questionable integrity throughout her political career. In recent weeks, though, I have become even more skeptical and suspicious of the Congresswoman, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, especially upon learning additional information provided by “NY21 Watchdog” on Twitter and the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Katie Wilson of Essex County. Apparently, Stefanik has received multiple “pay-to-play” contributions over the past several months from individuals and interests that are trying to interfere with and obstruct the Mueller investigation.
According to a November tweet from NY21 Watchdog, Elise Stefanik’s campaign has received multiple PAC donations from top Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee, including $5,000 from Congressman Mike Conway’s CONA PAC, $4,000 from Congressman Devin Nunes New PAC and $1,000 from Congressman Will Hurd’s HURD PAC.
According to a recent article from Politico, Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX), who’s leading the House Intelligence Committee investigation into Russian interference, is now eager to move attention away from the investigation and onto other matters.
From Politico, December 17, 2017:
“Republicans say they've been probing the matter for nearly a year with no conclusive evidence of "collusion" between Trump allies and Russia to undermine the election, and Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), who's leading the probe, has said he's eager to turn his focus toward writing a farm bill in his other role as chairman of the Agriculture Committee.
Their push to wrap up has drawn howls from Democrats, however, who claim that GOP committee members have left important questions unanswered, refused to subpoena witnesses who stonewall and failed to call dozens of figures who might have information.”
As I noted in a previous diary, Democratic congressional candidate Katie Wilson also criticized Stefanik for taking a $1,000 donation from the pro-Trump Great America Political Action Committee in February 2016, right as the House Intelligence Committee began to investigate Russian interference in the previous year’s election.
From Sun Community News, Elizabethtown, New York, December 21, 2017:
KEENE | Katie Wilson, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to unseat Rep. Elise Stefanik, is questioning if campaign contributions to the lawmaker by a pro-Donald Trump political action committee present a conflict of interest during the Russian investigation.
Stefanik sits on the House Intelligence Committee, one of the panels investigating Russia’s potential interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Stefanik, a Republican, received $1,000 from the Great America Political Action Committee in February, according to Wilson’s campaign.
“I am calling on Rep. Elise Stefanik to return contributions made to her re-election campaign from the Great America PAC,” Wilson said in a statement Thursday. “Clearly there is a conflict of interest here. We must preserve the integrity of the House Intelligence investigation, and any appearance of pay-to-play politics is unacceptable.”
Great America raised and spent over $30 million in support of Trump’s candidacy, and has continued donations to GOP politicians since the election, said the Wilson campaign.
“By returning these pro-Trump PAC campaign donations, Rep. Stefanik will prove she serves only our democratic process and that she can be an impartial voice in this investigation,” Wilson said.
Contribute now to New York’s 21st Congressional District Campaign Fund at ActBlue.com. All donations will go to the ultimate winner of the upcoming Democratic primary in the 21st District. (Don Boyajian, Tedra Cobb, Katie Wilson, Ron Kim, Emily Martz, Patrick Nelson, Tanya Boone)