In the News

While Democrats are pushing for the release of the Russia report, lawmakers on the other side of the aisle, including those from Indiana and Illinois, are ready to move on.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer tried to pass a resolution urging the public release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report, but he was blocked by Republicans.

Schumer said Monday that since President Donald Trump supports releasing the report, "there's no good reason for anyone to object."

But Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did object to Schumer's request, saying the Justice Department needs more time to wrap up Mueller's two-year probe.

Trump said earlier Monday that the release of Mueller's report "wouldn't bother me at all."

But other Republicans are ready to wrap things up now.

Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) said it is time to accept the findings and “move on.”

“I have always said that Robert Mueller's investigation should run its course,” Sen. Young said in a public statement. “With the investigation now complete, it's time to accept his findings and move on.”

Prior to Friday's announcement that the investigation was complete, the Democrat-led House unanimously approved a non-binding resolution calling for the public release of the findings.

But statements released Monday show Republican Congressmen are ready to accept the four-page summary from Attorney General William Barr as final word.

“After two years, two congressional investigations, and millions of taxpayer dollars spent searching for collusion between Russia and President Trump's campaign, Special Counsel Mueller's investigation—which had unfettered ability to investigate any potential link between Russia and the Trump campaign—has made it clear, without a doubt, no collusion with Russians by President Trump or by any other Americans,” U.S. Rep. Larry Buchson, M.D., said in a public statement.

Dr. Buchson went on to say Democrats spent the past two years “wasting time and money grasping at straws.”

“I hope that Democrats in Congress will accept the results of Special Counsel Mueller's investigation as definitive and put this matter behind us,” he added. “Any further investigations of this matter in Congress will simply be a needless partisan exercise.”

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) noted the cost to taxpayers was more than $25 million resulting in a confirmation that no collusion occurred.

“After more than two years of undermining Americans' confidence in our elections and casting unfounded aspersion on our president, it's time for Congressional Democrats to move on and focus on the real issues affecting all of our constituents,” Shimkus said in a statement.

Read Sen. Todd Young's full statement here. 

Read Rep. Buschon's full statement here. 

Read Rep. Shimkus' full statement here.

Denise Craig
My Wabash Valley