Chris Smith's Hands Are Dirty In Mueller Smear Campaign

The odds of Trump firing Rosenstein or Mueller are increasing, pushing the nation towards a crisis. Chris Smith contributed to the problem when he supported releasing the Nunes memo, and must be held accountable.

Smith tried to appear neutral by supporting the release of the Democratic memo, but this misses the point. The investigation into Russian election meddling is something Americans must take seriously. Mueller’s findings must be accepted and acted upon to defend ourselves in the future. Smith claiming he supported both sides doesn’t exonerate him and contributes to the problem. Having “two sides” is exactly what Nunes, Trump, and Republicans want. If half of the country views the investigation as tainted, we will be paralyzed to the point of inaction, leaving us vulnerable this November and beyond.

Set aside questions of collusion or obstruction for the moment; every intelligence agency has confirmed that Russia acted to sway the election for Trump. There have been indictments and guilty pleas. Russian efforts are real and haven’t stopped. But Trump and the GOP denied Russian involvement for a year, and stalled the investigation at every turn.

As a coequal branch of government, congress must step up, put aside party, and ensure future election integrity. With his usual silence, Smith has repeatedly failed at this task, putting us all at risk. He has one final chance to lead, he can support the bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act to protect Mueller’s investigation, and speak out against the madness of his party.