WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“Days after we found out that Jared Kushner tried to set up a secret communications network at Vladimir Putin's embassy in Washington, we learn that Donald Trump wants to return to Russia two properties were used to spy on the United States.  I can't help but ask if Trump is now starting to pay back the Kremlin for criminally hacking the election in his favor.  This is another offense against the American people and another step toward selling out to the Kremlin. 

“Every day I am more convinced that the appointment of Special Counsel Mueller is absolutely critical to the investigation of the connections between Trump and Vladimir Putin's Russia.  But Congress also needs to establish an Independent Commission so that the American people will have a clear understanding of the breadth and depth of this sordid relationship.”

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