Editorial: Did Trump use FBI to silence Sen. Burr?
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021-- Based on all we've witnessed of former President Donald Trump's modus operandi, it looks like an effort to put the squeeze on and muzzle any action - no matter how mild - that Sen. Richard Burr's Senate Intelligence Committee might take in its inquiry into efforts by Russia and other international actors to influence the 2016 elections.
Posted — UpdatedWe’d like to think the probe into Burr’s questionable stock transactions, made ahead of a sharp market drop amid the spread of the coronavirus and after Burr and others in the Senate had received a closed-door briefing on the emerging pandemic, was prompted by the Trump administration’s concerns over ethical behavior by public officials.
But experience leads us to wonder if it looks like something else altogether. To those looking on, it may seem to be more a scene from a movie like “The Godfather” than “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
Based on all we’ve witnessed of Trump’s modus operandi, it looks like an effort to put the squeeze on and muzzle any action – no matter how mild – that Burr’s Senate Intelligence Committee might take in its inquiry into efforts by Russia and other international actors to influence the 2016 elections.
While not aggressive or antagonistic, Burr had shown that he was not Trump’s lapdog. Burr has certainly not been critical of Trump and remained a loyal Republican. But he also wanted the committee to find the facts and make sure further efforts of foreign meddling in our elections was thwarted.
Burr has insisted there was nothing inappropriate about the stock trades and took his actions based on publicly available information. He asked the Senate Ethics Committee to examine his actions. There’s been no word, as of yet, from the Ethics Committee. The committee should do its work and fully disclose its findings. If Burr did anything wrong, so be it and appropriate action should be taken.
Trump wanted to make Burr an example. Republicans in Congress were so afraid of Trump and his base, they feared doing their job and telling the truth, only to face the retribution sure to follow.
Step out of line and look at what happens. It won’t be nice. Just ask exhibit #1: Richard Burr.
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