Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Dems Not Giving up on Russia Probe; Trump Visits Republicans
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
March 26, 2019

Share

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump headed to Capitol Hill for a victory lap Tuesday, emboldened by the end of the government’s Russia probe, even as Democrats continued to battle for release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s full report and intensified their focus on other issues including efforts to save the Affordable Care Act from a fresh administration attack.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged rank-and-file Democrats behind closed doors to “be calm” as they try to pivot from matters that have been mostly about Trump — the investigations and, earlier, the government shutdown — to the campaign promises that helped propel them to the House majority last fall. That means advocating for a robust policy agenda to improve health care and pay while conducting the oversight of the Trump administration many voters want.

“Let’s just get the goods,” Pelosi said, according to an aide in the room granted anonymity to discuss the private caucus meeting.

That advice was reinforced by former President Barack Obama, who counseled freshman Democrats at a reception Monday night.

Obama advised the newly elected lawmakers to listen to constituents — and also identify issues they feel so strongly about that they’d be willing to lose their House seats in fights over them, according to multiple people at the private party.

The former president recalled that as a state legislator he gave priority to his constituents, which helped keep his popularity high enough in Illinois that he could advocate for bold policy ideas.

The challenges for Democrats come as Trump has made clear he’s fired up to go on offense against those who propelled the narrative that he colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.

Trump Has Promised to Go After Those Who Did ‘Evil’ Things

His private lunch with Senate Republicans was likely to offer a sample. Ahead of the meeting, he tweeted against the “Mainstream Media” as “corrupt and FAKE” for pushing the “Russian Collusion Delusion” in a preview of attacks on other opponents to come.

“I believe that the Mueller report has been done. That’s a chapter that’s closed. [Health care] is the number one thing on people’s minds.” — House Democratic Whip James Clyburn

He has promised to go after those who did “evil” things, perpetuating the collusion narrative.

Attorney General William Barr’s summary said the special counsel’s probe didn’t find collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government to tilt the 2016 presidential election. Mueller did not determine whether Trump obstructed justice in the investigation, but Barr and his team said no prosecution was warranted.

Trump allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have encouraged him to use the political capital he’s now gained to accomplish policy goals. “Let’s go on about governing the country,” said Graham, who spent the weekend with the president in Florida.

Trump’s trip to Capitol Hill comes right after his administration said late Monday it would not defend the Affordable Care Act in a court challenge — and as the House Democrats, led by Pelosi, were unveiling a sweeping measure to rescue the program, also known as “Obamacare.”

The chairman of the intelligence committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., stood up at the closed-door meeting and told his colleagues the most important thing now is the work on the ACA, according to those in the room.

Other leaders backed up the focus on policy.

“I believe that the Mueller report has been done. That’s a chapter that’s closed,” House Democratic Whip James Clyburn said on CNN. Health care, he said, “is the number one thing on people’s minds.”

On the Trump-Russia track, Democrats pressed the Justice Department to provide the full report from Mueller, saying Barr’s four-page synopsis was insufficient.

photo of Nancy Pelosi
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., walks to a Democratic Caucus meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Pelosi and leading House Democrats are unveiling broad legislation today to shore up the Affordable Care Act. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The Challenges for Democrats Ahead Are Clear

“I haven’t seen the Mueller report. I’ve seen the Barr report. And I’m not going to base anything on the Barr report,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.

“The president is saying he’s been completely and totally exonerated by the report. The one sentence we’ve seen from the report says this is not an exoneration of the president.”

“The president is saying he’s been completely and totally exonerated by the report. The one sentence we’ve seen from the report says this is not an exoneration of the president.” — Rep. Jamie Raskin

Many Democrats say Barr is conflicted because of his views — expressed in a memo to the administration before becoming attorney general — that the president cannot be charged with obstruction since he oversees the Justice Department.

“You can’t move forward on a four-page memo,” said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. “It’s hard for me to accept that as an objective opinion.”

But the challenges for Democrats ahead are clear, as they try to balance conducting oversight of the president without seeming to overreach, all while Trump goes on attack for the years they spent accusing him of collusion.

“The thing about the president — and it’s his strength — is he’s Johnny one-note which is collision, collusion, collusion,” Bass said. “From his point of view it’s all over. But for us it’s about collusion, it’s about conspiracy, it’s about corruption, it’s about abuse of power and it’s about obstructing justice.”

She said, “We have a long way to go.”

Trump said the release of Mueller’s full report “wouldn’t bother me at all,” and Democrats quickly put that statement to the test.

Six House Democratic committee chairmen wrote to Barr and asked to have Mueller’s full report by April 2. If not, they have suggested subpoenas could be issued.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher Arrested in Online Child Exploitation Case

DON'T MISS

Investors Buy Fig Garden Village. How Much Did It Sell For?

DON'T MISS

Fresno County DA Wants Teens Tried as Adults in Caleb Quick Murder

DON'T MISS

State Farm Wins First-Ever Emergency Rate Hike in California

DON'T MISS

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

DON'T MISS

Tatum to Miss Remainder of Playoffs After Achilles Tendon Surgery

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Shooting Suspect

DON'T MISS

MLB Reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, Making Them Hall of Fame Eligible

DON'T MISS

Karbassi Running for Fresno County Elections Clerk, Says He Can ‘Do Better’

DON'T MISS

Global Eggs Completes Acquisition in US, Closes New Deal in Europe

UP NEXT

Cassie Testifies in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sex Trafficking Trial. What to Know About the Star Witness

UP NEXT

Jayson Tatum Carried off Floor With Right Leg Injury and Celtics Star Will Have MRI

UP NEXT

Dallas Mavericks Win the NBA Draft Lottery, Eye Cooper Flagg for No. 1 Pick

UP NEXT

US Inflation Stable Before Expected Jump From Tariffs

UP NEXT

Trump Plans to Accept Luxury 747 From Qatar to Use as Air Force One

UP NEXT

‘The Studio’ Knows the Real Reason Movies Are Bad

UP NEXT

India and Pakistan Agree to a Ceasefire After Their Worst Military Escalation in Decades

UP NEXT

Ukraine and Allies Urge Putin to Commit to a 30-Day Ceasefire or Face New Sanctions

UP NEXT

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 23 in Gaza as Outcry Over Aid Blockade Grows

UP NEXT

Experts Call Kennedy’s Plan to find Autism’s Cause Unrealistic

State Farm Wins First-Ever Emergency Rate Hike in California

8 hours ago

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

8 hours ago

Tatum to Miss Remainder of Playoffs After Achilles Tendon Surgery

8 hours ago

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Shooting Suspect

9 hours ago

MLB Reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, Making Them Hall of Fame Eligible

9 hours ago

Karbassi Running for Fresno County Elections Clerk, Says He Can ‘Do Better’

9 hours ago

Global Eggs Completes Acquisition in US, Closes New Deal in Europe

11 hours ago

‘I Never Said He Called My Son the N-Word.’ Fresno Unified Trustee Thomas Tries to Erase Accusation Against Former Bullard Coach

12 hours ago

UnitedHealth Group CEO Steps Down as Company Lowers, Then Withdraws Financial Outlook for 2025

12 hours ago

FDA and RFK Jr. Aim to Remove Ingestible Fluoride Products Used to Protect Kids’ Teeth

12 hours ago

Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher Arrested in Online Child Exploitation Case

A 43-year-old Fresno man identified as a certified substitute teacher with the Fresno Unified School District has been arrested for allegedl...

4 hours ago

https://www.communitymedical.org/thecause?utm_source=Misfit+Digital&utm_medium=GVWire+Banner+Ads&utm_campaign=Branding+2025&utm_content=thecause
Carlos Gonzalez, 43, of Fresno, a substitute teacher at Fresno Unified School District has been arrested for allegedly attempting to meet a minor for sex after contacting the child through a messaging app, prompting authorities to urge potential victims to come forward. (Fresno County SO)
4 hours ago

Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher Arrested in Online Child Exploitation Case

7 hours ago

Investors Buy Fig Garden Village. How Much Did It Sell For?

Fresno clovis caleb quick
8 hours ago

Fresno County DA Wants Teens Tried as Adults in Caleb Quick Murder

8 hours ago

State Farm Wins First-Ever Emergency Rate Hike in California

8 hours ago

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

8 hours ago

Tatum to Miss Remainder of Playoffs After Achilles Tendon Surgery

Fresno police are seeking help identifying a suspect caught on video after a shooting near First Street and Belmont Avenue left one person injured on Sunday. May 11, 2025. (Fresno PD)
9 hours ago

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Shooting Suspect

9 hours ago

MLB Reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, Making Them Hall of Fame Eligible

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend