Byron York: 11 key points to remember about Trump-Russia affair

[TomSea]

Byron York: 11 key points to remember about Trump-Russia affair
By Byron York (@ByronYork) • 3/31/17 5:10 PM

The Trump Russia investigation has spread in so many directions, and sparked so much crazy commentary, that it's hard to keep track of it all. So here is a guide to help you keep your eye on the ball:

1) Substance is what matters, Part 1. From the very beginning, there was only one central question in the investigation: Did Donald Trump or his associates collude with Russians in an attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election? So far we've seen evidence of some in the Trump circle having contact with Russians — see the Roger Stone DMs with Guccifer 2.0 — but we have seen nothing to prove, or even lend much support to, the contention that anyone on the extended Trump team coordinated election interference with Russians.

2) Substance is what matters, Part 2. In recent weeks, a second Big Question has emerged: Did the Obama administration spy on the Trump campaign and/or transition team? That's the issue at the heart of the Devin Nunes brouhaha, and the answer — did this happen or not? — is more important than where or how Nunes got his information.

3) When either side yells about process, they're holding a weak hand. Some Republicans have tried to distract from the was-there-collusion question by focusing on the leak of classified information regarding former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's conversation with the Russian ambassador. That's a legitimate issue — and indeed, the only known crime committed so far — but it doesn't get to the main issue of whether or not TrumpWorld colluded with Russians. Likewise, when Democrats yell about the methods House Intel Committee chairman Nunes employed to obtain evidence that might point toward Obama administration spying — that means they don't want to talk about Obama administration spying.

4) Everyone should see the Nunes documents. In a smart — and belated — move Thursday, White House counsel Don McGahn invited the chairmen and ranking members of both House and Senate intelligence committees to come to the White House to view the documents Nunes saw. House Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff took McGahn up on it, but the Senate is making noise about demanding the documents be brought to the Senate. Enough with the turf battles; the investigation will be better off if both Senate Intel chairman Richard Burr and vice chairman Mark Warner go see the documents.

Continued: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/byron-york-11-things-to-remember-about-trump-russia-affair/article/2619060