Burr, Warner pledge to continue Russia investigation amid FBI shakeup
Following a meeting with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Senate Intelligence Committee chairs Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, said they will continue their investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election, in the wake of FBI Director James Comey's firing.
The meeting with Rosenstein, arranged prior to Comey's departure, comes amid reports that Rosenstein was threatening to resign over how the firing was handled, a claim the Department of Justice denies.
"Since the committee has an investigation going on that is very similar to what the Department of Justice has going on, we felt there was a great need to set up a process for de-confliction, so that when we had witnesses we needed to talk to, we made sure we weren't stepping on top of anything that may be an active investigation," Burr told reporters.
Burr said that he and Warner told Rosenstein that their investigation "could not go forward without an understanding of the rules of the road."
Burr added that whatever course the FBI decides to take in its Russia probe, the Intelligence Committee's investigation will "continue as aggressively as we're able to."
While Warner called the meeting a "productive session," he told reporters he still had concerns about Rosenstein in terms of his exact role in Comey's departure.
Warner added the timing of Comey's dismissal and the testimony provided by former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday, were "very troubling," which he expressed to Rosenstein.
Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe took the place of Comey at Thursday's Intelligence Committee hearing. Burr and Warner have invited Comey to brief the committee on Tuesday.
Burr says he has not received a response regarding Comey's appearance.