Wednesday, March 15, at 5PM, senators Chuck Schumer (D), Mark Warner (D), Diane Feinstein (D) and Chuck Grassley (R) received a briefing on "certain topics" about "highly classified matters" from FBI director James Comey. Coming out of that brefing, Feinstein and Grassley faced the media together, looking extremely grim. Feinstein offered very brief and uninformative comments, saying that she could not comment on highly classified information and telling the press representatives who had been waiting for a comment "I'm sorry, but it's the way life is here right now". Feinstein did all the talking, while Grassley, the chairman of the committee that had repeatedly asked for the briefing, remained silent and looked down. Both were visibly shaken.
We can only guess what they had heard moments before, but a reasonable guess is "nothing good". The requested topic of the briefing was if there were any FBI investigations into collusion and ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. However, we have no idea what was covered, nor what they heard. Notably absent from the invitation-only briefing were Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R) and President pro tempore Orrin Hatch (R). Chuck Grassley was the only Republican invited.
After Feinstein made her one-minute statement, Grassley asked her if she was "ready to go", and the Republican and the Democrat left together in silence. Feinstein's tight-lipped composure was eerily similar to what she looked like in the famous clip from 1978 when she announced that Harvey Milk and Los Angeles mayor George Moscone had been shot to death by Dan White.
This has a rather ominous look to it. Feinstein and Grassley seem to have been treated to information that neither of them was expecting, and that neither of them liked. The public House hearing with director Comey on Monday, March 20, might give us some more information, but it probably won't disclose whatever classified information these senators received.
I will not even venture a guess regarding what this was all about. At least, not in public. We will just have to wait and see.
