Senators in both parties are calling for a deeper look into General Michael Flynn's resignation. Senate panels are already investigating Russia’s meddling in the election, but reports that the Trump team and Russian officials communicated during the campaign are creating more urgency to investigate these matters. Washington bureau reporter Alberto Pimienta filed the following report.
If there is something senators on both sides of the aisle are seeing eye to eye on, it is that Congress should investigate, in more detail, to get the full story on the resignation of General Michael Flynn.
The question now is should special committees or commissions be created not only to investigate Flynn’s phone conversations with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. but also the communications, that according to New York Times, happened between the Trump team and Russian officials during the presidential election.
"First, we ought to see what has happened and ask some questions and find it out the depth of this and how serious it is before we reach that conclusion. But questions have to be asked," said Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
"We can't simply give you opinions here today based on something we read in the newspaper. We have a job to do in the terms of conducting oversight, and we are going to do it," said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
Some Democrats are calling for a bipartisan independent commission like the one created after the September 11th attacks.
"I have supported and filed legislation for an independent commission," said Sen. Christopher Coons of Delaware. "This is similar to our attack of 9/11."
But other Senators think that's not needed yet. They say existing committees, like the Intelligence Committee, should proceed with their investigations.
"I think the standing committees can do it," said Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona.
Others are going even further. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says law enforcement should investigate - namely, the Department of Justice and the FBI.
"The Trump administration needs to answer some serious questions. These questions must be asked by independent and unbiased law enforcement officers," Schumer said.
Schumer also says Attorney General Jeff Sessions should not be part of those investigations because he's too close to the Trump administration.
Whatever decision is made, the issue is not going away.
"The one positive of the resignation, I think it is a positive for the country, is I think it makes it almost impossible for the administration or the GOP in Congress to stop the investigation or sweep it under the rug," said Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia.