With pained expressions, Republicans, led by Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), tried to make the main story the unauthorized and illegal leaks of extremely classified information — specifically pertaining to President Trump’s 24-day national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, but also the unlawful leaks of Trump’s telephone conversations.
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The Republicans are correct that the leaks should be an enormous scandal, particularly given the often hysterical arguments about the government’s intrusions into American privacy over the last 15 years. Leaking a president’s conversations fundamentally undermines the ability of the president — any president — to talk frankly with foreign leaders, especially our allies.
But moving headlines in that direction was a tall order. The GOP's leaky strategy took a hit when FBI Director James Comey broke protocol (again) to confirm that there is indeed an active investigation of "any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign" and the Russians. Doubling down on bad news for the GOP, Comey and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers refuted the president's claim that he was bugged by the Obama administration or British Intelligence.
If the Republicans thought the media would take the bait, they were deluding themselves.
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First, the media love leaks, believing they’re an indispensable part of a functioning democracy and the bread-and-butter of their vocation. Even if these leaks weren’t damaging to an administration the media clearly loathe, most mainstream journalists wouldn’t help the Republicans make leaking the main issue.
More important, Russia’s meddling, despite all of the misinformation swirling around it, is also a major story — and a much sexier one. Democrats could hardly contain their glee when talking about Russian chicanery.
The White House hoped the hearing would help close the Russian chapter. Trump tweeted Monday morning that the whole controversy was "made up" by the Democrats. But it seems unlikely the FBI would be investigating a fabricated story.
Rather, Monday’s hearing is further evidence that Russia’s meddling is bearing fruit.
The intelligence community has concluded that Russia only belatedly wanted Trump to win. The Russians’ first priority — as it is in elections throughout Europe — was to undermine the legitimacy of the democratic process and to sow chaos in the West.
In this, they have succeeded.
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Russian meddling led to Trump’s celebration of it during the campaign — “I love WikiLeaks!” — which led to illegal partisan leaks, which led to Trump accusing his predecessor of “wiretapping” Trump Tower and then suggesting the British did the spying for us. The ensuing chaos required Comey on Monday, to break protocol and divulge that an investigation is taking place.
It's embarrassing to have the heads of the FBI and the NSA — never mind congressional leaders in Trump's own party — nod to Russian power and publicly refute numerous incendiary presidential claims.
Nothing about any of this is normal.
The challenge for the GOP in the months ahead will be to figure out how to play more than just defense.
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