WASHINGTON _ After a yearlong investigation marred by bitter partisan divisions, Republicans announced Monday that the House Intelligence Committee has not found any evidence of collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russians who used social media and hacked emails to influence the 2016 election.
A draft report of more than 150 pages will be shared with Democrats, who have been pressing for a more aggressive investigation than Republicans would allow.
The decision makes the House panel the first of three congressional panels to wrap up its examination of possible ties between Trump's campaign and transition team, and the Russians who interfered in the campaign. The president has repeatedly denied there was any collusion.
"We will now be moving into the next phase of this investigation, working with the minority on a report to give the American people answers to the questions they've been asking for over a year," said Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, who has led the investigation. "With the 2018 primary elections already underway, and just 238 days until the midterm elections in November, it's important that we give the American people the information they need to arm themselves against Russian attempts to influence our elections."
