Dan Rather: Flynn Scandal May Escalate To Watergate Levels
- 7 years ago
On Tuesday evening, Dan Rather noted the Michael Flynn scandal has the makings of a Watergate-level crisis.
Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned on Monday amid reports that he’d engaged in inappropriate, if not illegal, talks with Russian officials and then asserted he had not.
Soon after, it came to light that President Trump was briefed on the situation weeks ago, but did not act, notes the Washington Post.
On Tuesday evening, veteran journalist Dan Rather noted the situation has the makings of a Watergate-level crisis.
In a Facebook post, he writes, “On a 10 scale of armageddon for our form of government, I would put Watergate at a 9. This Russia scandal is currently somewhere around a 5 or 6, in my opinion, but it is cascading in intensity seemingly by the hour.”
He continues, “When we look back at Watergate, we remember the end of the Nixon Presidency. It came with an avalanche…This Russia story started out with an avalanche and where we go from here no one really knows.”
Rather notes a key aspect of the ongoing search for information is, “What did the President know, and when did he know it?"
He also comments, “The White House has no credibility on this issue. Their spigot of lies - can't we finally all agree to call them lies - long ago lost them any semblance of credibility. I would also extend that to the Republican Congress, who has excused away the Trump Administration's assertions for far too long.”
Rather calls for, “…an independent investigation,” as, “We deserve answers and those who are complicit in this scandal need to feel the full force of justice.”
How quickly, if at all, such an inquiry will take place remains unknown.
While some lawmakers are demanding the situation be fully examined, others, including House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz, believe the matter was resolved when Flynn resigned.
Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned on Monday amid reports that he’d engaged in inappropriate, if not illegal, talks with Russian officials and then asserted he had not.
Soon after, it came to light that President Trump was briefed on the situation weeks ago, but did not act, notes the Washington Post.
On Tuesday evening, veteran journalist Dan Rather noted the situation has the makings of a Watergate-level crisis.
In a Facebook post, he writes, “On a 10 scale of armageddon for our form of government, I would put Watergate at a 9. This Russia scandal is currently somewhere around a 5 or 6, in my opinion, but it is cascading in intensity seemingly by the hour.”
He continues, “When we look back at Watergate, we remember the end of the Nixon Presidency. It came with an avalanche…This Russia story started out with an avalanche and where we go from here no one really knows.”
Rather notes a key aspect of the ongoing search for information is, “What did the President know, and when did he know it?"
He also comments, “The White House has no credibility on this issue. Their spigot of lies - can't we finally all agree to call them lies - long ago lost them any semblance of credibility. I would also extend that to the Republican Congress, who has excused away the Trump Administration's assertions for far too long.”
Rather calls for, “…an independent investigation,” as, “We deserve answers and those who are complicit in this scandal need to feel the full force of justice.”
How quickly, if at all, such an inquiry will take place remains unknown.
While some lawmakers are demanding the situation be fully examined, others, including House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz, believe the matter was resolved when Flynn resigned.