Donald Trump gloated today after Republicans abruptly ended a congressional inquiry into alleged meddling by Russia in the 2016 US presidential election and said there was no evidence of any collusion with his campaign.
The House Intelligence Committee’s decision was announced even though special counsel Robert Mueller is expanding his separate investigation and pursuing criminal charges against at least four close aides to the president.
Mr Trump posted a tweet in capital letters, reading: “THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS, AFTER A 14 MONTH LONG IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.”
Democrats on the Republican-led committee were enraged by the decision to end the inquiry. Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the committee, called it a “tragic milestone for this Congress”.
He added: “In the coming weeks and months, new information will continue to be exposed through enterprising journalism, indictments by the special counsel, or continued investigative work by committee Democrats and our counterparts in the Senate.
“And each time this new information becomes public, Republicans will be held accountable for abandoning a critical investigation of such vital national importance.”
Mr Schiff said the decision was taken by Republicans “who lack the courage to stand up to a president of their own party when the national interest necessitates it”.
Republican Michael Conaway, who oversaw the probe, insisted there was no proof of collusion with Moscow. He said: “The bottom line: the Russians did commit active measures against our election in 2016, and we think they will do that in the future.”
But he continued: “We disagree with the narrative that they were trying to help Trump.”
The congressman said the campaign’s only crime was being a little sloppy, adding: “We found perhaps some bad judgment, inappropriate meetings.”
He said he will give Democrats a 150-page report detailing the committee’s findings.
The committee’s claim that Russia did not side with the Trump campaign is at odds with the view of US intelligence agencies. Mr Mueller has accused 13 Russians of meddling in the presidential poll in to boost Mr Trump’s chances.
In addition to Mr Mueller’s FBI investigation, the Senate Intelligence Committee is continuing its inquiry into the collusion claims, which Russia denies.
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