Blackburn, Capito, 40 GOP colleagues request update on Crossfire Hurricane investigation

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) joined 40 of their Republican colleagues to request an update on a federal inquiry into the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

Crossfire Hurricane was the code name for the counterintelligence investigation undertaken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from July 31, 2016, to May 17, 2017, into links between Russian officials and associates of former president Donald Trump and whether individuals associated with his presidential campaign wittingly or unwittingly coordinated with the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The senators sent an Aug. 19 letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland seeking an update on the status of Special Counsel John Durham’s inquiry into the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation and to ensure the investigation is seen to completion.

“The Special Counsel’s ongoing work is important to many Americans who were disturbed that government agents subverted lawful process to conduct inappropriate surveillance for political purposes,” the lawmakers wrote. “The truth pursued by this investigation is necessary to ensure transparency in our intelligence agencies and restore faith in our civil liberties. Thus, it is essential that the Special Counsel’s ongoing review should be allowed to continue unimpeded and without undue limitations.”

Among the members who joined Sens. Blackburn and Capito in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Todd Young (R-IN), and John Hoeven (R-ND).

The senators also requested that the investigation’s report be made available to the public upon completion.