John Dempsey, WLS-AM 890 News
Illinois Democratic U.S. Senator Dick Durbin wants to see an independent commission investigate allegations that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Durbin appeared on “The Big John and Ray Show”, one day after former acting Attorney General Sally Yates said she alerted the White House earlier this year that former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn could be “essentially blackmailed by the Russians.”
Durbin sits on the Senate judiciary subcommittee that heard Yates testimony. He told WLS an independent commission is the only way to truly answer the Russian question.
“We need an independent commission, bipartisan, non-partisan commission to look into the Russian involvement and whether there was any, and I underline the word any, involvement by any Americans in their effort to influence this last election.”
Trump fired Flynn, a retired general, for failing to disclose discussions with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak about US sanctions against the Kremlin and for not telling the truth about them to Vice President Mike Pence.
Durbin says he’s concerned that it took Trump 18 days to get rid of Flynn, despite having more information about his background.
“President Obama specifically warned President-elect Trump about Flynn. Told him this is a bad choice. President Trump went forward with that choice. We know now it was a serious mistake. And for 18 days, even after they had been warned, the White House kept Flynn in this top security position, making critical decisions when it came to the safety of the United States and the world.”
House and Senate committees are currently investigating Russian election involvement, as is the FBI, but Durbin says there needs to be an independent probe that is free from politics.
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