After Trump, Hillary Clinton, Obama being investigated for Russia ties
Republican committees have started parallel inquiries into former US President Barack Obama and 2016 presidential candidate Hilary Clinton. Obama and Clinton are under the scanner for approving a controversial uranium deal with Russia. Additionally, the committees are probing the FBI's decision to not charge Clinton for using her private e-mail server for conducting government business as secretary of state during the Obama administration.
What context is this happening in?
Trump raised Clinton's use of private e-mail server as an issue to undermine her credibility during the 2016 presidential campaign. This was followed by an FBI investigation into the matter, which in turn diminished her chances of winning. More recently, Trump had highlighted Obama's and Clinton's complicity in the Russia Uranium deal as "the biggest story Fake media doesn't want to follow."
Meanwhile, Trump campaign is under the scanner for Russia ties
US intelligence agencies believe that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election to "harm Clinton's electability" to help Trump win. The Justice Department, FBI and other congressional committees are now investigating these alleged Russia connections. Trump has denied the allegations.
What are the committees investigating?
One of the committees will probe into Obama's approval of a 2010 deal that handed over the control of 20% of US uranium supply to Russia. Two other panels will look into the FBI's decision to not press charges against Clinton over her use of private e-mail servers. Interestingly, both the issues under scrutiny have been long-standing grievances raised by Trump.
Why is the Russia uranium deal such a big deal?
The deal was approved when Clinton was Secretary of State in 2010. Meanwhile, recent reports have indicated that the Clinton charitable foundation received millions of dollars in donations from Russian nuclear officials. Moreover, the FBI was investigating Russia's attempts to gain control of the US nuclear industry through bribery and extortion at the time. Could this mean Clinton or Obama had Russia ties?
Democrats: The inquiries are a "massive diversion"
Clinton dismissed the allegations as "baloney." In a responding statement, Democrat congressmen Elijah Cummings and John Conyers termed the investigation "a massive diversion to distract from the lack of Republican oversight of the Trump administration and the national security threat that Russia poses."
