Bullpen Reviews: GOP members during Trump-Russia hearings

Left: Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA)

Right: Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC)

Photo credit to Heavy.com via Getty Images

After two grueling days of high-tension testimonies in Washington, it is time to analyze what we've learned.

On Wednesday, there were testimonies given by four intelligence chiefs, including Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

On Thursday, the highly anticipated testimony of former FBI Director James Comey took place.

Both days of testimonies provided insight regarding the Trump-Russia scandal.

Whereas Wednesday's testimonies were highlighted by few answers given by the intelligence chiefs, Thursday's testimony from James Comey gave great insight into the behavior of President Donald Trump in their conversations.

There has been more than enough discussion regarding the testimonies given by all the members of the intelligence community.

However, as I watched both days of testimonies from start to end, there were a handful of moments when some noteworthy comments were made by those asking questions and those responding to the testimonies.

For instance, in Wednesday's testimonies, Senate Intel Committee member and former California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D-CA) poised a question to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Harris asked whether Rosenstein would give special counsel Robert Meuller full independence in his investigation into any links between the Trump campaign and the Russia.

"[What I'm asking] is that you put in writing an indication based on your [Rosenstein's] authority as the Acting Attorney General, that [Meuller] has full independence in regards to the investigations that are before him", said Harris.

She continued, "Are you willing or are you not willing to give him the authority to be fully independent of your ability, statutorily and legally to fire him?"

Once Rosenstein seemed to begin dodging the question, Harris persisted saying, "yes or no?"

This led Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) to suspend Harris and allow Rosenstein to continue without giving a clear answer.

Harris then asked James Comey the same question the next day as to whether Meuller should have full independence.

Comey immediately responded, "Oh yeah, and he wouldn't be a part of it [the investigation] if he wasn't going to get full independence."

Although Comey agreed with Harris, he has no role or input in the investigation anymore.

The fact that Richard Burr intervened in what was a fair question seems off.

Why wouldn't Rod Rosenstein allow a former FBI director with bipartisan support continue with the investigation without full independence?

Why couldn't Rosenstein simply answer yes to Sen. Harris' question?

Most importantly, why did Burr intervene and not allow Harris to push for a concrete answer in a hearing that provided few answers at all?

Continuing with the Comey testimony, committee member Jim Risch (R-ID) seemed to give an odd comment on the intent of Donald Trump's words towards James Comey.

Risch quoted the notes of a specific conversation between Comey and Trump that Comey provided in his opening statement.

In regards to a conversation discussing the investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Risch quoted President Trump as saying to Comey:

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this [the investigation] go."

Risch then stated, "He did not direct you to let it go."

"Not in his words, no", replied Comey.

"He did not order you to let it go", continued Risch.

"Again, those words are not an order", answered Comey.

Risch then proceeded to asked Comey if anyone had ever been charged with obstruction of justice or any other charge for wishing upon an outcome.

Comey said no before stating: "I took it as a direction. It is the president of the United States, with me alone, saying I hope this, I took it as this is what he wants me to do. I didn’t obey that.”

Risch pressed on saying that the president only said "I hope", as opposed to directing Comey to follow through with demands.

Jim Risch seemed to push away the thought of obstruction of justice by stating that the president only wished for an outcome rather than demanding one.

In my opinion, that's the equivalent of a girl walking with her boyfriend as they see another couple and saying, "Gee, I wish you would buy me flowers like that."

If you're in the position of the boyfriend, you better get your wallet out and get some flowers before you're suddenly single (for no discernible reason I assume).

Comey was right in thinking that the president, although not explicitly, was asking that he would end the investigation into Michael Flynn.

For Risch to suggest that only because the words weren't explicitly used that there could be no obstruction of justice considered only furthers the argument that the in certain minds, obstruction of justice is a partisan issue.

Moving on to the reactions after the testimonies, Paul Ryan defended Donald Trump's frustration of the investigation's process and the rumors involving him.

Ryan cited that Trump was rightfully frustrated after James Comey reassured that he was personally not under investigation three separate occasions.

Ryan stated, "He's new at this [government]".

However, James Comey has only confirmed and can only confirm what the FBI was/is investigating to his knowledge during his time as FBI director.

In my opinion, there cannot be any conclusion to the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government without investigating Donald Trump.

For Senator Kamala Harris to ask Rod Rosenstein if he'd given Robert Meuller full independence into the investigation is a fair question, especially given that Meuller could be fired for no reason under Rosenstein's overseeing.

The behavior of the GOP members both in and out of the Senate Intelligence Committee gives me personally, dread as to what is to come.

If a Republican-majority intelligence committee fails to infer what the president's comments meant or prioritize the answers needed to build progress in the investigation, I can only imagine what a Republican-controlled Congress can do if charges are pressed against the president.

The plot thickens in Washington and as the future weeks or months come, only time will tell what Robert Meuller and the Trump-Russia investigation gives us.