That subpoena to Don Jr. from the GOP-led Senate Intelligence Committee was just one defection too many. Well, actually, it's the only defection since the redacted Mueller report proved Trump associates repeatedly courted Russian assistance to help Trump get elected. That defection, of course, came from Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, who chairs the Senate Intelligence panel and coincidentally doesn't plan to run for reelection in 2022. A day after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and White House spokespeople declared the Russia probe "case closed," news surfaced that Burr's Intelligence panel had subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr. to give closed-door testimony before the committee.
Donald Trump said Thursday he was "very surprised” by the subpoena, which MSNBC reported was actually issued sometime in mid-April. Discussions regarding Don Jr.'s testimony had apparently been ongoing for weeks, but following the release of the redacted Mueller report, Jr. soured on the idea. Thus the subpoena, which has clearly roiled the Senate caucus. Some GOP senators went for the jugular. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky accused Burr of "aiding and abetting" Democrats.
"It’s sort of, in some ways, an overzealous persecution of the president’s family. I mean, any time you’re made to come and compelled to testify by subpoena you’re at risk for, you know, prosecution, imprisonment," Paul noted. Prosecution, imprisonment … true story. "I think it’s a real mistake to force him to come in, and it couldn’t happen without Republicans being complicit in it." Complicit ... ouch!
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said it's time for the Intelligence Committee to "wrap up its work," while Burr's GOP colleagues in the Carolinas were a bit more genteel in their assertions. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said, "If I were his lawyer, I'd be reluctant to put him back in this circus," which is especially interesting, since Graham was one lawmaker who elicited testimony from Jr. that is being drawn into question. And poor, poor North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who's up for reelection in 2020, tried to ignore Burr's existence in the kerfuffle altogether.
"The Mueller Report cleared @DonaldJTrumpJr and he’s already spent 27 hours testifying before Congress," Tillis tweeted. "Dems have made it clear this is all about politics. It’s time to move on & start focusing on issues that matter to Americans." Democrats, eh?
For his part, Burr decided to keep mum.
And then Mitch "cased closed" McConnell reportedly came to Burr's defense during a caucus meeting Thursday afternoon.
Wow. Republicans in disarray.