My Open Letter to @SenToomey @SenBobCasey: Congress must act, appoint independent commission.

Senators Toomey and Casey:

Congress must act to address the growing web of scandals around Trump, Russia, and the 2016 elections. The Flynn scandal in particular demonstrates Trump’s disregard for national security. Both intelligence committee chairs’ actions this week raise serious doubts about them leading impartial investigations. I urge you to support a 9/11-style independent commission with the following goals:

  1. Quickly determine if the Trump Administration contains any more security risks. National secrets and the lives of military/intelligence personnel may be at risk right now.
  2. Investigate Donald Trump’s financial entanglements with Russia including a comprehensive review of his tax returns and business dealings with Russian oligarchs.
  3. Investigate Russia’s lop-sided interference in the 2016 elections and any connections the Trump campaign had with Russia before and during the election.
  4. Provide 9/11-style recommendations to harden future American elections against external threats like, but not limited to, Russian influence.

Donald Trump disregarded a clear warning from the FBI that General Flynn was compromised and could be subject to blackmail. Trump left Flynn in charge of the NSC, privy to the country’s most secret information, for two weeks after being warned, and he fired Flynn only after the story broke in the news. Donald Trump’s disregard for national security is clear, and Congress must take action.

I am disappointed that both of my senators voted to confirm Wilbur Ross, a man who chaired the Bank of Cyprus. It’s a favorite of Russian oligarchs and was recently implicated in a $10 billion Russian money-laundering scheme. Given everything else, how can the American Public not wonder about yet another tie to Russia in the Trump administration. Only an independent commission can remove the corrupt stink of Russian influence that surrounds the Trump Administration. We need answers now.

I look forward to an email or written response at your earliest conveniences, to Senator Casey’s Philly town hall on 12 March, and to Senator Toomey scheduling his first in-person Town Hall in Philadelphia soon.

A Concerned Constituent