This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
WASHINGTON • Before national security adviser Michael Flynn's forced resignation Monday night, all Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent a letter to Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. Chaffetz has been dismissive of calls to investigate the administration on a variety of fronts, including President Donald Trump's conflicts of interest, his apparent violations of the Constitution's emoluments clause and the purported breach of contract with the General Services Administration involving Trump's D.C. hotel, which Chaffetz dubs merely "curious." The immediate subject of this letter was Flynn, but the letter can be seen as documentation of Chaffetz's abject dereliction of his duty as chairman of a committee whose job it is to examine executive branch malfeasance.
Democrats began the letter by demanding that Chaffetz reconsider his recent denial of a request from ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings, Md., to investigate Flynn's security clearance and receipt of any foreign payments. They reiterated a series of their previous requests that Chaffetz look into Flynn's ties to Russia, payments he may have received (including compensation from Russia's propaganda outlet RT) and communications with Russia during the election and transition. They blasted Chaffetz's refusal to demand a "single document" from the FBI, Defense Department or National Security Council. In light of Flynn's resignation, the letter now serves to document Chaffetz's willful refusal to perform oversight on a matter that has turned into a major scandal for the administration.
Democrats argued, "It is difficult to imagine a more serious list of allegations for our Committee to investigate. 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."
In addition, after Flynn's resignation, the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., issued a call for further investigation, because the White House has yet to come clean on "who was aware of Flynn's conversations with the Ambassador, and whether he was acting on the instructions of the President or other officials, or with their knowledge."
Flynn's resignation proves Democrats' point about the seriousness of the issues swirling around Flynn, but his resignation will not end calls for investigation either of him or the rest of the administration. To the contrary, Democrats likely will and should insist that with an admission from Flynn that he did not tell the truth about contacts with Russia, there is even more reason to investigate Flynn's communications and relationship with Moscow and the degree to which Trump and others in the administration were aware of Flynn's problematic ties. Since we have already seen resignation of one senior adviser, the argument for a special prosecutor or independent commission will gain strength.
Democrats no doubt were encouraged to send the letter in the wake of the boisterous crowd at Chaffetz's town hall demanding that he "do his job" and engage in proper oversight. Chaffetz apparently "bristled" at Right Turn's suggestion that he is not taking his oversight responsibilities seriously, but he has no warrant for complaint. His lack of initiative now smacks of partisan indulgence of an administration unique in its number of conflicts, trail of suspicious behavior, dishonest statements and sheer incompetence. The administration is at a tipping point, on the brink of falling into paralysis and chaos. It should be in Republicans' interest to help steady the ship of state.
Given Chaffetz's unbridled arrogance and partisanship, however, he is unlikely to play a helpful role.