Congress’ investigation into Russia and the 2016 election is focusing on the Obama administration’s spying and illegal leaks of classified intelligence.
Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice is refusing to testify after it was revealed she requested the unmasking of Trump officials caught up in surveillance.
Trey Gowdy responded, and his announcement could unravel Rice’s and Obama’s role in this conspiracy.
The Senate Judiciary Committee requested Rice testify after journalist Mike Cernovich broke the story that she requested the unmasking of multiple Trump officials caught up in surveillance.
Rice – through her lawyer – claimed it was because the invitation wasn’t “bipartisan.”
Fox News reports:
Susan Rice, Barack Obama’s longtime national security adviser, declined Wednesday to testify before a Senate subcommittee about Russian activities during the 2016 election campaign.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. had requested that Rice appear before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism on Monday.
Rice’s refusal to testify was first reported by CNN.
In a letter addressed to Graham and ranking member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Rice’s attorney Kathryn Ruemmler said that her client opted not to appear because Whitehouse had said he did not agree with Graham that Rice should testify.
Ruemmler called Graham’s unilateral invitation “a significant departure from the bipartisan invitations extended to other witnesses.”
Trey Gowdy – who has stepped up his role on the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russia’s conduct during the 2016 election – immediately fired back.
He responded that Congress should make Rice’s cooperation mandatory by issuing a subpoena.
The Daily Caller reports:
Trey Gowdy managed to take shots at both Susan Rice and Hillary Clinton in just one Fox News interview Thursday morning.
Host Bill Hemmer asked the South Carolina Republican what he thought about Rice refusing an invitation to testify about Russian hacking and the unmasking of Trump campaign officials.
“There are other ways to invite people other than via a letter,” Gowdy asserted. “There are things called subpoenas. You shouldn’t have to use them with a former national security advisor, but if you do, you do.”
The representative from South Carolina said that Rice is a “very important witness.”
Rice testifying could be dangerous for both her and Obama.
The former National Security Advisor has a history of lying.
She appeared on five different Sunday shows during the 2012 election and claimed the Benghazi terrorist attack was caused by a YouTube video.
Rice also declared Bowe Bergdahl served with honor and distinction before the army charged him with desertion.
And in a February interview on PBS, she claimed she knew nothing about surveillance and the Trump campaign despite the fact she was the one who requested the unmasking of Trump officials.
Testifying under oath isn’t like appearing as a guest on a Sunday show.
You can’t lie.
If you fail to tell the truth, you face jail time.
Forcing Rice to testify under oath could be the best chance to get to the bottom of the Obama administration’s spying scandal.
We will continue to keep you updated on any new developments in this story.
