Congressional candidates differ on probe into Russian influence on 2016 election
Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and her Republican challenger have different takes on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian influence on the 2016 presidential election.
Schakowsky and John Elleson are running in the Nov. 6 election in the 9th Congressional District, which includes all or parts of Evanston, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Golf, Park Ridge, Wilmette, Morton Grove, Des Plaines, Glenview, Chicago, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Northfield and Northbrook.
Elleson, an Arlington Heights pastor, is a first-time candidate looking to prevent Schakowsky from receiving her 11th two-year term in Congress.
Among the issues Elleson and Schakowsky addressed in a Daily Herald Editorial Board interview and in questionnaires is the Mueller investigation of possible collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russian operatives in the 2016 election.
Schakowsky, an Evanston resident, said she developed great respect for Mueller when she sat on the House Intelligence Committee and he headed the FBI. She said she supports the Russia probe and Mueller, calling him a "straight shooter" who focuses on facts.
"I think he's very smart," Schakowsky said of Mueller. "I think he's hired people as part of this investigation that are the best in the country and I think that we will get a lot of information."
Elleson said he's "soured" on the Russia investigation.
"It probably never should have started in the first place," Elleson said. "Attorney General (Jeff) Sessions probably should have never recused himself. From what I could see, these things further divide the country and keep the nation from unifying, while hampering the administration's focus on the nation's issues."
Elleson and Schakowsky also weighed in on Republican U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes of California, who is chairing the House Intelligence Committee's review of the Russia matter.
"Devin Nunes has shirked his responsibility to our country and has chosen instead to play lap dog to President Trump," Schakowsky said. "It has been disgraceful to watch."
Elleson credited Nunes and others for bringing to light information that has shown a political side to the Russia investigation. He added that some within the FBI and Justice Department "may have had it in" for Trump.