Republican Senator Richard Burr was put in the hot seat Wednesday with his fellow GOP colleagues across Capitol Hill when it was revealed that he, as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, subpoenaed President Donald Trump's eldest son to return for more testimony about key events in the Russia investigation. Following this surprising decision, few Republican committee members on Thursday had anything positive to say about the subpoena. The Republican-led committee is nearing the completion of its probe into Russian election meddling, despite special counsel Robert Mueller having already concluded his investigation in March. Burr's committee members expressed little enthusiasm about hauling Donald Trump Jr. before the panel for a second round of questioning when prompted by Newsweek. Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Marco Rubio of Florida, who took more neutral positions on the matter, were the minor exceptions. Several Intelligence members sidestepped the issue to instead express their desire to conclude the probe, while others declined to comment. "I believe that Senator Burr has been a very good chairman, has done an excellent job at conducting this investigation and has worked very closely with the ranking Democrat on the committee," Collins, a moderate Republican, told Newsweek. She did not comment on what sort of questions she would ask Trump Jr. "I'm sure that the [Intelligence Committee's] report we produce is going to be comprehensive and fair," Collins continued. "Keep in mind that it focuses on the counterintelligence aspects of this issue." Trump Jr. testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee in September 2017, as well as to other congressional committees about various matters, that he had only been "peripherally aware" during the 2016 presidential campaign of a proposed Trump Tower in Moscow. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who then worked for the Trump Organization and was heavily involved with the project, contradicted Trump Jr's testimony during an appearance before the House Oversight Committee in February. Cohen said he met with Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, the president's eldest daughter and senior adviser, "approximately ten" times to brief them on the plan. Senator John Cornyn, an Intelligence member, told reporters that subpoenaing Trump Jr. after he's already "cooperated extensively" was something that "smacks of politics." The Texas senator later told Newsweek he has "confidence in [Burr]," but said it's time to end their investigation. "We've been at this for about two years," Cornyn said. "I think we know pretty much everything we're going to learn, and I think we ought to wrap it up." He declined to answer what sort of questions he would have for Trump Jr. and whether the committee should hold Trump Jr. in contempt if he chooses not to comply. Cornyn also declined to discuss the details of an afternoon conversation between himself and Burr about the subpoena, which was reportedly issued anywhere from a few days to a few weeks ago. It's not clear by what date Trump Jr. must comply. Sources close to him have told several media outlets that he is considering not appearing or invoking his Fifth Amendment rights. Prompted by Newsweek whether he supported Trump Jr. coming to testify, Intelligence member and Republican Senator Marco Rubio said: "I support the committee finishing its work." He later explained that "sometimes, there might be follow-up questions and you need people to come in." House and Senate Republicans were swift to offer condemnation of their GOP colleague subpoenaing the president's son, a move that is likely to intensify an already tense and broken relationship between Congress and Trump. To the public's knowledge, Trump Jr. is the first immediate Trump family member to be served with such a legal document from Congress. Representative Mark Meadows labeled it "beyond inappropriate," while House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy suggested it's "time to move on." Representative Lee Zeldin called it "weak & ridiculous" and Senator Rand Paul said Burr "didn't get the memo" from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said the Mueller investigation was "case closed" earlier this week. Speaking with reporters, Trump said he was "very surprised" and that his "son is a good person" who "testified for hours and hours" in previous congressional testimony. Rubio believed the harsh criticism from fellow Republicans stemmed from a "misunderstanding about what our focus is on." "We have a very different line of work than what Mueller and the Justice Department did. We're looking at the intelligence aspect of it and how to protect against foreign intelligence agencies' attacks against the United States in order to produce a bipartisan and thorough report," he elaborated. Republican Senators Roy Blunt and Tom Cotton declined to comment while Senator James Risch told reporters to direct any questions to Burr. All three men sit on the Intelligence Committee. Burr, who's said he will not seek re-election in 2022, declined to answer reporters' questions throughout the day. Blunt, also a member of Senate GOP leadership, noted to Bloomberg that Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, provided additional testimony, and he hoped Trump Jr. would, too. However, he believed it would not change the final outcome of the investigation. The top Democrat on the committee, Senator Mark Warner, would not discuss with Newsweek the sort of questions he would have for Trump Jr. But when asked about the criticism Burr has received from fellow GOP lawmakers and whether it was fair, Warner praised the chairman for not yet concluding the invesitgation, despite being pressured by Republicans to shut it down "before it's finished." "I'm very proud of the work of this committee and I'm proud of the fact that we're the last remaining bipartisan investigation, and we're going to continue that way," he told Newsweek.<doc-sep>Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in Alabama, is publicly ripping Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) for his rogue subpoena of President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. The subpoena was issued by Burr in contravention of orders from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who on Tuesday declared regarding the Russia hoax: “case closed.” “Enough is enough,” Byrne said in a statement provided exclusively to Breitbart News. Despite spending millions and countless hours on an investigation that found NOTHING, some want to keep this nonsense going. There are real issues in our country and this whole sideshow is a waste of time. Let’s move on!” Byrne’s statement ripping the subpoena is just the latest in a long line of statements, including from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), and several other members of Congress. No Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee are publicly defending Burr or the subpoena at this stage. In fact, when asked by Breitbart News on Wednesday evening, no Republican members of the Senate Intelligence Committee would publicly support the subpoena. None of them would back Burr remaining chairman of the committee, either. These GOP senators who are not publicly defending Burr or the subpoena include the offices include Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), who is up for re-election in Texas in 2020; Tom Cotton (R-AR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Jim Risch (R-ID). These are all the offices of Republican members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In fact, while no members of his committee are publicly defending him, there are actually no Republicans anywhere in elected office defending Burr’s rogue subpoena. It remains to be seen what happens next, but McConnell has not yet replied to a request for comment on what he thinks of the matter and whether he will continue to allow Burr to serve as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.<doc-sep>When the Senate Intelligence Committee subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr. on Wednesday to answer questions about Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, Republicans immediately berated their colleague Richard Burr, the Republican chair of the committee. The Mueller report is out, and the special counsel concluded that Trump did not collude with Russia in 2016. But Democrats are still searching for something that isn't there, according to GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy. . @DonaldJTrumpJr has already spent dozens of hours testifying in front of Congressional committees. Endless investigations—by either party—won't change the fact that there was NO collusion. It's time to move on. It’s time to focus on ISSUES, not investigations. https://t.co/fbFH5uMLUz — Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) May 8, 2019 As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the other day, "the case is closed." Why didn't Sen. Burr "get the memo?" I agree with Leader McConnell: this case is closed. The Mueller Report cleared @DonaldJTrumpJr and he’s already spent 27 hours testifying before Congress. Dems have made it clear this is all about politics. It’s time to move on & start focusing on issues that matter to Americans. https://t.co/11THs9LE0j — Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) May 9, 2019 Apparently the Republican chair of the Senate Intel Committee didn’t get the memo from the Majority Leader that this case was closed... https://t.co/jvV5PIX266 — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 8, 2019 Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is among those advising Trump Jr. not to comply. From colleague Jason Donner. Graham on Senate Intel Cmte subpoena for Donald Trump Jr: If I were his lawyer I wouldn’t put him back into this circus. The freak show in the House. I'm not going to let it come to the Senate — Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 9, 2019<doc-sep>Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr is fighting intense backlash from his own party for subpoenaing the president's son. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Congress Burr holds firm despite GOP anger over Don Jr. subpoena The Senate Intelligence chairman has no plans to withdraw the subpoena for the president’s son. Richard Burr faces intense pressure from Republicans to drop his subpoena of President Donald Trump’s eldest son and quickly wrap up the Senate Intelligence Committee’s Russia probe. But despite a day facing attacks from the highest rungs of party leadership, Burr is unmoved, according to colleagues in both parties. The North Carolina Republican declined to address the criticism or the subpoena to reporters, but there is no talk yet of withdrawing the subpoena, according to Republican senators. Burr gave a brief update on the status of his Russia investigation at a Senate GOP lunch on Thursday, attendees said. Burr, known for his independent streak, appeared happy to ignore the political storm he had fueled. “I told you I’m not going to chat right now. I’m in the middle of something,” Burr said as he made his way to lunch in the Senate dining room. Afterward, he posed for pictures with his lunch guests, then walked into the Capitol and kept his public silence. POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or updates from POLITICO and you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service. You can unsubscribe at any time and you can contact us here. This sign-up form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Some of Burr’s GOP colleagues, however, were eager to offer complaints that the Intelligence Committee is still working its probe weeks after special counsel Robert Mueller’s report was released. “The subpoenas can’t happen without a Republican being for it, and I would hope that Republicans would stand firm and say enough’s enough,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is close to Donald Trump Jr. “This is a great sort of assault on someone, in the sense that you put yourself in jeopardy anytime you come in and testify.” “This is one great big politicized, political football,” said Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont. ), another Trump Jr. ally. He described broad GOP “frustration on what’s going on at the moment. It’s time to move on from these investigations.” Some Intelligence Committee members said the panel would need to address the controversial subpoena, which was issued by Burr and the Democratic vice chairman of the committee, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia. The subpoena was sent days ago, but news of it leaked just one day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declared the Mueller investigation “case closed.” “The Mueller report has concluded no collusion, and Barr said no obstruction. What’s the deal? Why is this continuing on? I think there needs to be a better conversation about that,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), an Intelligence Committee member. He later declared he has “confidence” in Burr but reiterated “we pretty much know just about everything we need to know.” His fellow Texan Ted Cruz agreed, tweeting: “There’s no need for another subpoena.” Others were harsher. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) called Burr's move “beyond inappropriate” and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said it was “bad form” not to give the president a heads-up. Trump name-checked Burr on Thursday, expressing his disapproval with the subpoena and arguing his son had been “totally exonerated” by Mueller. “I was very surprised,” Trump told reporters. “I saw Richard Burr saying there was no collusion two or three weeks ago.” Indeed, the family element of the subpoena heightened the tension. Trump Jr. has been closely linked to Trump’s style of politics, barnstorming the country last year on behalf of GOP Senate candidates and seen within the Republican Party as a loyal soldier. So there was little surprise within Capitol Hill that the subpoena became an intraparty flash point. “Bringing in the son of the president? That’s quite intense, let’s put it that way, to go do that,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). And though many Trump-aligned Republicans are criticizing the committee — and in some cases Burr himself — it’s not a unanimous view. “He’s a good chairman, and I don’t have any problem with his decision,” said Intelligence Committee member Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). “I don’t have any reason to disagree with Sen. Burr’s decision.” Blunt and Cornyn said there has been no discussion of reversing the subpoena. “Conservatives shouldn’t criticize Burr. Because Burr was assigned the lead role on all of this Russia collusion stuff by the leader,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). “The leader had confidence in Burr’s leadership, nobody else ought to be questioning it.” Democrats also backed up Burr, a three-term senator with a conservative voting record, a North Carolina drawl and a laid-back attitude that includes usually wearing no socks and bringing his own lunch to catered party confabs. “I’m very proud of the fact that we’re the only committee that’s kept bipartisan through this whole investigation,” said Warner. “The chairman’s had pressure to shut this down this down for a long time. I’ve had pressure to reach a conclusion before we’re finished. We’re going to do our job.” “The case is not closed as far as our committee is concerned,” said Intelligence Committee member Angus King (I-Maine), referring to McConnell’s comments. McConnell declined to comment for this story. But he did tout the importance of Burr’s investigation on Tuesday even as he dismissed Democrats’ calls to continue litigating the Mueller report and questions of collusion and obstruction. Yet to many Republicans, the news of Trump Jr.’s subpoena presented a painful dilemma: Stand with a respected GOP chairman who has held together his committee for years during a contentious probe, or with a president who takes vengeance on fellow Republicans who cross him and his family. “I don’t want to second-guess Richard,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). But he added: “Put yourself in Don Jr.’s place.<doc-sep>
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is speaking out against his fellow GOP North Carolinian Sen. Richard Burr’s decision to issue a rogue subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee of President Donald Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. The subpoena from Burr was issued in contravention of direct orders from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who declared the entire Russia hoax “case closed” earlier this week. So now Tillis’ decision to speak out publicly against the rogue Burr subpoena is a massive development that will have big implications in the Senate, and in both Burr’s and Tillis’s home state of North Carolina. I agree with Leader McConnell: this case is closed. The Mueller Report cleared @DonaldJTrumpJr and he’s already spent 27 hours testifying before Congress. Dems have made it clear this is all about politics. It’s time to move on & start focusing on issues that matter to Americans. https://t.co/11THs9LE0j — Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) May 9, 2019 Tillis is the latest in a long line of Republicans to turn on Burr in the wake of the issuance of the rogue subpoena to Trump, Jr., joining Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), and Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) and Bradley Byrne (R-AL)–among others. Tillis is perhaps, though, the most influential given his closeness with Burr–they are very friendly–and given the fact they both represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. While all these Republicans have publicly ripped Burr’s move, no Republicans have risen to defend the embattled Senate Intelligence Committee chairman. In fact, offered the opportunity on Wednesday evening and on Thursday morning, no Senate Republican member of the Intelligence Committee would either issue statements in public support of Burr’s subpoena or of Burr himself remaining chairman of the committee. These Senate offices include Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), who is up for re-election in Texas in 2020; Tom Cotton (R-AR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Jim Risch (R-ID). Tillis is up for re-election in 2020, and has framed his campaign as one where he aims to defend President Trump and his policies from critics on the left. Tillis is facing a primary, and his campaign manager told local media that he aims to be the pro-Trump candidate. “Senator Tillis is no stranger to primaries and he is fully prepared for another,” Tillis’s campaign manager said, according to a local blog in North Carolina. “He looks forward to defending President Trump and his policies against any anti-Trump activist who chooses to enter the race.” What’s more, on Thursday, Tillis’ campaign pushed out materials claiming his primary opponent is anti-Trump: Inbox: @SenThomTillis campaign issues press release highlighting previous anti-Trump views expressed by his GOP primary challenger. #NCSEN — David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) May 9, 2019 Surabian, the force behind the crown, gets his results pic.twitter.com/hZ9fJQ14be — Sam Stein (@samstein) May 9, 2019 All in all, though, Tillis’ move to throw Burr under the bus on the Trump Jr., subpoena is a pretty big and bold first move on the re-election campaign to prove he is sufficiently pro-Trump in the U.S. Senate to warrant a second term. It remains to be seen what Tillis does next, but this definitely caught team Trump’s attention as several sources close to the White House were pleased with Tillis’ move against Burr on Thursday morning telling Breitbart News that those close to the president are happy.