President Trump allowing Attorney General William Barr to review the beginning of the Russia probe is “far worse” then Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to a House Democrat.
“What I’m suggesting is a profound change in the ability, the integrity, the independence of the Justice Department and the intelligence community. That will have a longer-lasting impact than what the Russians did,” Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois said on CNN’s “Newsroom” program Friday. “If presidents are allowed to use law enforcements to go after political enemies, where does it end?”
“It’s been an assault on the independence and the integrity of law enforcement and the Justice Department,” Mr. Quigley added. “This is weaponizing them against his political enemies. This is what autocrats do and if allowed will create a very destructive precedent for the future.”
On Thursday, Mr. Trump granted the attorney general the authority to review classified information and directed the intelligence community to “quickly and fully cooperate” with an investigation into the beginnings of the Russia investigation and whether the president’s 2016 campaign was illegally spied on.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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