In the News

Today, all Democratic Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent a letter to Chairman Jason Chaffetz urging him to reconsider his repeated refusals over the past several months to join Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings in investigating Lt. General Michael Flynn and his ties to Russia.

“Today, all Democratic Members of the Committee write to you jointly to request that you either reconsider your decision and initiate this investigation, or step aside and allow the Committee to vote on conducting basic oversight going forward,” the Members wrote.

Last week, Cummings asked Chaffetz to join him in sending letters to the Department of Defense, National Security Council, and Federal Bureau of Investigation to obtain copies of General Flynn’s security clearance applications and any updates he submitted listing his contacts with foreign officials and any sources of foreign financial payments.  As with every previous request relating to Flynn over the past several months, Chaffetz declined to join any of these letters. 

To date, Chaffetz has refused to request a single document relating to the troubling allegations against General Flynn’s ties to Russia.

The Members cited multiple instances that raise grave questions about General Flynn’s fitness to serve as National Security Advisor and continue having access to classified information, including taking payments to dine with Vladmir Putin and celebrate Russia’s propaganda outlet; potentially failing to obtain the consent of Congress to accept those funds in violation of the Constitution; communicating repeatedly with Russian officials while Russia was attacking our presidential election; secretly discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador in possible violation of the Logan Act; and potentially lying about these discussions to White House colleagues and the American people.

“It is difficult to imagine a more serious list of allegations for our Committee to investigate,” the Members wrote. “They demand a robust, immediate, and bipartisan investigation rather than partisan stonewalling and the transparent excuses for inaction.  If you are not willing to take action, then we ask that you allow us to do our job by scheduling a vote on proposals from other Members of the Committee about the investigative steps we should take on this matter.”

Click here to read today’s letter from all of the Democrats to Chaffetz.