The main goals of the Senate Intelligence Committee are to oversee and analyze intelligence related content and activities, submit proposals to the Senate with regard to intelligence based legislature and to ensure intelligence activities are in accordance with the United States Constitution and laws. Though Senators who are members of this committee have accessed to classified information, it is legally up to the President to make sure the committee is fully up-to-date. Though the President does reserve the right to restrict access to covert activities, a general description must be provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The Committee’s main focus is trying to understand and evaluate whether the Trump campaign or any individuals associated with the campaign or President Trump colluded with Russia. To answer this inquiry, Committee members have conducted hearings from various individuals involved in intelligence and law such as former FBI director James Comey, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The end goal of the Committee on this investigation is to produce a summary based on thorough evidence to determine if and how Russian operatives influenced the 2016 presidential election.

Currently the Committee consists of eight Republican Senators and seven Democrat Senators. Richard Burr (R-NC) spearheads this Committee as chairman, with Mark Warner (D-VA) as vice chairman. Senators also involved include James Risch (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Roy Blunt (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (D*-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Kamala Harris (D-CA).

Most notable of the Committee’s actions have been regarding the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey who argues he was fired due to his involvement in the FBI Russian investigation. In addition to hearings, there has also been difficulty obtaining information from former national security advisor Michael Flynn who used the Fifth Amendment to avoid a Senate Intelligence Committee issued subpoena. Finally, most recently, Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke before the panel and denied collusion with the Russians.

*Listed as affiliated with the Democrat party on the official Senate Intelligence Committee website; however, generally considered an Independent.

SOURCES:
https://www.intelligence.senate.gov
http://www.npr.org/2017/06/08/531940912/there-are-many-russia-investigations-what-are-they-all-doing

https://www.c-span.org/video/?429381-1/former-fbi-director-comey-say-president-obstructed-justice&start=1303

Events:

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