Rep. Adam Schiff: Republicans ‘Refused’ to Bring in Russian Spy for Fear of Tarnishing NRA

Rep. Adam Schiff: Republicans ‘Refused’ to Bring in Russian Spy For Fear of Tarnishing NRA (Mediaite)

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) appeared on CNN’s New Day to confirm a tweet that he sent Tuesday indicating that the GOP was not interested in questioning Maria Butina, a Russian operative who allegedly established a backchannel to the Republican Party through the NRA.

“We heard credible allegations that the Russians may have been funneling money through the NRA, so yes, we wanted to pursue this, but like many other things, when it got too hot, the republican reaction was, we don’t want to know, we’d rather not know,” Schiff explained to New Day’s Alisyn Camerota.

“Indeed, even today, as we continue to bring in witnesses, the majority continues to call the witnesses who are coming before our committee, and telling them: ‘Do not come in, don’t tell the Democrats anything,'” he added.

A baffled Camerota looked to clarify his comments. “Just to be clear, you’re saying that your Republican colleagues on the committee called her and said do not come in? How exactly did they block her sharing information with you?”