February 14, 2017 03:20 PM UTC

As #Russiagate Explodes, Gardner Silent

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #6: Watch Sen. Cory Gardner say absolutely nothing about Michael Flynn in an interview aired moments ago by Denver7:

That really clears things up. Thanks, Cory!

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UPDATE #5: Via TPM, Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado officially punts:

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) indicated to reporters on Capitol Hill that he was not concerned Flynn had remained in his role for more than two weeks after the Justice Department reportedly warned the White House about the content of his calls with the Russian ambassador.

“That has nothing to do with his judgement,” Perdue said when asked if that time gap made him concerned about Trump’s judgement. “It’s an unfortunate circumstance. It’s been resolved. And we’re going to move forward.”

Asked if there should be an investigation in the wake of Flynn’s resignation, Perdue said he had “no idea.”

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) similarly demurred when asked about the potential for an investigation. He told reporters that Congress needs “to see what the White House says” before determining next steps. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) told reporters that they would need more information before determining whether a probe is necessary, too. [Pols emphasis]

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UPDATE #4: Via Blair Miller, Sen. Cory Gardner releases a statement praising the Trump administration’s policy on Russia with no mention of Michael Flynn:

.@SenCoryGardner on Spicer’s comments on Russia/Ukraine/Crimea #copolitics pic.twitter.com/cI5lWhN5Ib

— Blair Miller (@blairmiller) February 14, 2017

In Cory’s world, the biggest story of the day didn’t happen. We’ll update if that changes.

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UPDATE #3: Still nothing from Sen. Cory Gardner, but Rep. Ed Perlmutter joins the chorus demanding answers:

I’m cosponsoring @RepJerryNadler‘s Resolution of Inquiry directing the @DOJgov to provide w/ all info about POTUS’ Russian ties & more. pic.twitter.com/7C9DzcKy1g

— Rep. Ed Perlmutter (@RepPerlmutter) February 14, 2017

UPDATE #2: Colorado’s senior Sen. Michael Bennet weighs in strongly:

The #FlynnResignation is not enough. Congress must start a full, in-depth, bipartisan investigation immediately. pic.twitter.com/kBISalW6ER

— Michael F. Bennet (@SenBennetCO) February 14, 2017

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UPDATE: Local liberals turn up the heat on Cory Gardner:

“So far, the response from Colorado Republicans in Congress has been totally unacceptable,” said ProgressNow Executive Director Ian Silverii. “Sen. Cory Gardner, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said nothing at all about Flynn’s resignation. What does Sen. Gardner know about the Trump administration’s contacts with the Russian government, and when did he know it? Every day that Gardner remains silent makes him complicit in what has happened.”

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Denver7’s Blair Miller reports on the local reactions to the Michael Flynn controversy now dominating national headlines–and in some cases, lack thereof:

[A]mid the controversy and rumors swirling about Washington, Colorado Congressmen from each side of the aisle are pressuring Flynn and the administration for more details regarding the call and say Flynn should resign if he misled the administration.

“As national security advisor, Michael Flynn is responsible to the President, Vice President, and the American people,” Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., said in a statement to Denver7 Monday evening. “It is his duty to be fully transparent and forthright in his actions—anything less is unacceptable. If in fact he purposely misled the President, he should step down immediately.”

Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, also called for Flynn’s resignation if Flynn indeed discussed the sanctions…

Given the swiftly-spreading news yesterday that Flynn’s head was on the chopping block, we can’t give Rep. Mike Coffman credit for anything more than beating the deadline by a few token hours. Despite some opportunistic victory lapping by Coffman boosters after Flynn’s resignation became public, it’s just plain silly to give him credit for causing it. He got word a few hours in advance that it was happening, and put out a statement. It was just-in-time politics, not a profile in courage.

And much more telling is another Colorado lawmaker who hasn’t said a word:

Requests for comment from Sen. Cory Gardner’s office Monday on the matter amid a request for another story went unreturned. [Pols emphasis]

As of this writing Sen. Cory Gardner has not responded to the situation at all, and as the state’s ranking Republican elected official and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his silence…well, as they say, it roars. Many other Republicans have called for in-depth investigations of the Trump administration’s ties to the Russian government, but not Gardner.

And at this point, whatever he says or does isn’t leadership at all. It’s CYA.