WASHINGTON – Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement blasting the Trump administration for holding a partisan military briefing and withholding legally requested information from Democratic senators:

“Shutting Democrats out of a briefing on U.S. military strikes and withholding the legal justification for those strikes from half the Senate is indefensible and dangerous. Decisions about the use of American military force are not campaign strategy sessions, and they are not the private property of one political party. For any administration to treat them that way erodes our national security and flies in the face of Congress’ constitutional obligation to oversee matters of war and peace.

“This partisan stunt is a slap in the face to Congress’ war powers responsibilities and to the men and women who serve this country. It also sets a reckless and deeply troubling precedent. The administration must immediately provide to Democrats the same briefing and the OLC opinion justifying these strikes, as Secretary Rubio personally promised me that he would in a face-to-face meeting on Capitol Hill just last week. Americans deserve a government that fulfills its constitutional duties and treats decisions about the use of military force with the seriousness they demand.”

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