Shortly after former national security adviser Michael Flynn entered his guilty plea on Friday in connection with the ongoing Russia probe, Queens Congressman Gregory Meeks repeated his call for an independent Congressional commission to investigate last year’s election.
“Flynn’s guilty plea underscores the continued need for a thorough investigation — free of disruption, obstruction, or any other attempts to impede it by President Trump or anyone else — into the Trump campaign and this administration’s ties to Russia,” Meeks said in a statement. “Americans have every reason to be concerned about the Kremlin’s impact on our election and its influence over senior White House officials.”
As The New York Times first reported, Flynn — a retired general whom President Trump tapped as his national security adviser in January after campaigning for his election — pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 in federal court to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn had only served as Trump’s national security advisor for 24 days; Flynn resigned on Feb. 13 after it was reported that he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about contacting Kislyak previously.
On Friday, Flynn indicated in a statement that he intends to fully cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting an independent investigation into possible Russian interference in last year’s election. ABC News, citing a source close to the investigation, reported that Flynn will testify against the president himself as well as Trump family members and top aides.
Meeks expressed concern that the president might attempt to coerce Republican senators into abandoning “the investigation into his administration.” Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina told The New York Times on Nov. 30 that Trump had expressed to him a desire to see the investigation concluded “as quickly as possible.”
“It further stresses that it is imperative for Congress to establish a bipartisan, independent commission into Russia’s interference in our electoral system, and its attempt to undermine our democracy,” Meeks said. “I continue to encourage my Republican colleagues to put country over party and join Democrats in establishing said commission.”
Meeks represents the Fifth Congressional District covering southeast Queens and serves as ranking member of the House Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats Subcommittee.
