We read the whole report Republicans just released on the House Intel Committee's Russia investigation - here are the main points
- House Intelligence Committee Republicans released a report of their findings in the panel's Russia investigation on Thursday.
- The report makes a number of incomplete assertions that seek to distance President Donald Trump and his campaign from allegations of collusion with Russia.
- Republicans made a number of suggestions to shore up the US's response to Russia's aggression, including ramping up cyber defenses and empowering state and local officials to secure critical election infrastructure.
- They also suggested Congress repeal the Logan Act, a centuries-old law that some have speculated may be used to prosecute members of the Trump campaign.
Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee released a report of their findings in the Russia investigation on Thursday, and it makes a number of incomplete assertions that obscure established facts.
It said Russia was responsible for carrying out cyberattacks against the US; for disseminating hacked emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee; and for launching a social media disinformation campaign - findings that largely echo parts of the US intelligence community's assessment of Russia's interference in the election.
But Republicans' conclusions on whether President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow left out critical context and painted an incomplete picture of the scope of the campaign's contacts with Russian actors.
Among other things, House Intelligence Republicans said:
- The so-called Steele dossier "formed an essential part" of the DOJ's application to surveil a former Trump campaign aide
- None of the witnesses who testified before the committee provided evidence of "collusion, coordination, or conspiracy" between the campaign and Russia
- There is "no evidence" that Trump's business dealings prior to the campaign "formed the basis" for collusion during the election
- Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was not indicted on charges related to collusion
- A controversial change to the GOP's platform toward Ukraine during the campaign, which watered down the US's aid to Ukraine to fend off Russian aggression, signified a stronger position toward Russia
- Former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos' attempts to facilitate Trump-Russia meetings during the campaign were not successful
- Donald Trump Jr. attended a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with two Russian lobbyists offering him dirt on Hillary Clinton, but did not ultimately receive the material
- Trump Jr. met with a Russian government official - believed to be Russian politician and banker Alexander Torshin - during the 2016 National Rifle Association convention but did not discuss the US election
- None of the meetings between Trump associates and Russians amounted to evidence of collusion, coordination, or conspiracy with Russia
- Russia's efforts to set up a "back channel" with the Trump team after the election indicates there was no collusion during the race
- The opposition-research firm that produced the Steele dossier once also worked for Russian interests
- Fusion GPS was hired by a law firm representing Democrats and the Clinton campaign
- National security leaks about Russia that were damaging to Trump increased after Election Day 2016
- The former intelligence chief may have misled investigators about his contacts with the media
The committee recommended Europe and the US should shore up their cyber defenses and lessen economic dependence on Russia to counter its aggression. It also suggested Congress should take a larger role in addressing Russia's cyber activity and empower state and local authorities to secure election infrastructure.
Notably, Republicans also recommended that Congress repeal the Logan Act.
Trump associates like former national security adviser Michael Flynn have been accused of violating the Logan Act, which makes it illegal for private citizens to conduct policy negotiations on behalf of the US.
Flynn pleaded guilty in December to one count of making false statements to investigators about his conversations with Sergei Kislyak, then Russia's ambassador to the US. According to special counsel Robert Mueller's court filing, a "very senior member" of the Trump transition team directed Flynn's interactions with Kislyak - a revelation observers said could amount to a violation of the Logan Act.
The New York Times reported last year that some have suggested the Logan Act is moot based on a legal doctrine called "desuetude," which stipulates that a law may become null and void if it goes without use for a long time. Only two people have been indicted under the Logan Act, and neither indictment resulted in a conviction.
After Republicans released their report, the ranking Democrat on the committee, Rep. Adam Schiff released a statement in response.
"Russian interference was successful because the beneficiary of their help has refused to condemn it," he tweeted. "The lack of a serious investigation by the GOP is an invitation to the Russians to do it again."