Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is demanding an investigation into whether the Trump administration is trying to block a probe into potential Russian collaboration with his campaign.
Schumer, D-N.Y., sent a letter to Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz. His request came two days after President Trump accused the Obama administration of wiretapping his campaign.
“I write today to urge you to begin an immediate investigation into whether there has been any political interference with an ongoing Department of Justice investigation related to President Trump’s campaign, transition, and administration’s contacts with the Russian Federation and attempts of Russia to interfere with the 2016 United States election,” Schumer wrote to Horowitz.
Schumer cited “many troubling facts and questions” about Russian interference in the 2016 elections, and noted that Attorney General Jeff Sessions and ousted national security adviser Mike Flynn met with or talked to Russian officials before joining the Trump administration.
Schumer sent a long list of questions to Horowitz, and asked him to investigate whether the White House is attempting to interfere with an investigation by pressuring the department.
Schumer asked Horowitz to investigate White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus’ request that the FBI publicly deny that they have evidence the Trump campaign was in contact with the Russians. Priebus said the FBI contacted him first to deny the reports about a Russia connection.
“Were these contacts proper?” Schumer asked Horowitz.
