John B. Larson

John B. Larson

John B. Larson is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of Connecticut.

He began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999, and is presently in his seventh term serving the people of Connecticut's First Congressional District.

Larson was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus for the 112th Congress, a position in served in during the 111th Congress. As Caucus Chair he will work to build consensus among his colleagues on the key issues of the day. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Caucus for more than two years.

Background

Larson was born on July 22, 1948 in Hartford, Connecticut. He and his seven brothers and sisters were raised in Mayberry Village, a public housing project in East Hartford by their parents, Raymond and Pauline.

He graduated from East Hartford High School in 1967 and from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in 1971. Larson was later selected by Dr. Edward Zigler, the creator of Head Start, to be a Senior Fellow at the Yale Bush Center for Child Development.

Before entering Congress, Larson was a high school history teacher and athletic coach until he became an owner of Larson & Lysik insurance company. He served on the East Hartford Board of Education and the East Hartford Town Council. In 1982, he was elected to the Connecticut State Senate, beginning a 12-year tenure representing the 3rd Senate District until 1995. Larson served as Senate President Pro Tempore for eight years from 1987 to 1995.

Congress

As a senior leader in the House Democratic Caucus, John was named chairman of the Task Force on Election Reform, created to develop a legislative agenda for reforms to take big money out of politics and address flaws in the electoral system. In 2005, Larson was named to the influential Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nation's tax code, trade policy, Social Security, and Medicare. Currently he sits on both the Subcommittee on Trade and Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.

In 2013, he was named co-chairman of the Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus, a bipartisan group of members charged with keeping members informed on issues related to the development, testing, and deployment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Congressman Larson formerly served on the Armed Services Committee, Science Committee, and as Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee.

Labor Caucus

The Labor Caucus is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2021 members included John B. Larson .

Resolution condemning socialism

Fedrary 2, 2023 House Republicans moved a Resolution condemning socialism and certain dictators.

The Resolution began:

Whereas socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships;

Whereas socialism has repeatedly led to famine and mass murders, and the killing of over 100,000,000 people worldwide;

Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro;

Eighty six Democrats voted no. Forteen voted "present" and six didn't vote.

Representative John B. Larson voted "Nay".

Progressive Turnout Project

In 2022 John B. Larson was supported by Progressive Turnout Project.

Communist Party connections

John B. Larson has a history with Connecticut Communist Party fronts such as Connecticut Opposes the War and Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans.

COW January rally

Some 300 people hissed and booed at the mention of Joe Lieberman's name during a Connecticut Opposes the War rally at the LOB cafeteria January 2007, which featured Democratic Congressmen Chris Murphy, Joe Courtney and John B. Larson, along with a whole host of progressive Blues.

So great is the continuing disdain for our Junior Senator, New Haven activist Henry Lowendorf promised a protest in front of Lieberman's Constitution Plaza office in Hartford, Thursday, Jan. 18 at 12:30 pm.

Before the rally began, Lowendorf said a group was talking and made the decision to picket Lieberman's office. "There may be people who want to do CD and occupy his office," Lowendorf said.

March rally

March 23 2007, Hartford, Conn.: After a 12-hour snow and sleet storm, 1,500 Connecticut residents dug themselves out for the Connecticut Opposes the War rally at the Old Statehouse March 17. Buses, vans and carpools left from campuses, union halls, churches, suburban towns and cities, reflecting months of grassroots organizing.

Speakers included U.S. Reps. John B. Larson and Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut House Majority Leader Chris Donovan and Connecticut AFL-CIO President John Olsen. Participants vowed to go after Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) and Rep. Chris Shays (R) “until they change their minds about this war.”

DeLauro, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, called the war “a mistake of historic proportions,” saying “Congress must take up its own constitutional responsibility.” She said, “This week Congress took the first step to get the troops out. I’m going to work my heart out to get this passed.”

A bill prohibiting the president from invading Iran without approval will be taken up next week, said Larson, declaring, “We will end the policies of unilateral and pre-emptive war.” He urged the crowd to keep sending letters and phone calls.

Protecting Social Security

Congressman John Larson at Social Security forum/press conference with Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans, November 23, 2010.

A week after being re-elected as chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. John B. Larson joined with retired union members at the state capitol who were calling for the protection and expansion of Social Security.

"Working people want America to keep its promise on Social Security," said Cal Bunnell, president of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), which convened the pre-Thanksgiving event.

In reply to the report from the National Fiscal Commission, which proposes cuts to Social Security, John Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO pointed out that seniors receiving Social Security are living on an average of $13,000 a year, hardly enough to make ends meet.

"We reject the toxic twisting of facts designed to divide the generations and convince the American people to tamper with Social Security, a successful government program that has kept millions of Americans out of poverty for the past 75 years," said Mary Elia, Organizer for the Connecticut ARA.

Larson lauded Social Security as the best government program which keeps seniors out of poverty...

Joelle Fishman, and Win Heimer were in attendance.

ARA endorsement

Tom Connolly left, Cal Bunnell, third from left

Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans endorsed John Larson for Congress, in 2010.

Larson has been campaigning to protect Medicare and Social Security from being privatized. He accepted the endorsement from the Alliance for Retired Americans in Manchester last week. “John Larson is a great friend of Connecticut seniors,” said Kevin Lynch, a national board member for the Alliance.

Medicare Town Hall

John B. Larson, the incumbent Democrat Congressman in the 1st District (Hartford and vicinity), heard an earful from many people attending his Town Hall Meeting at the Newington Senior and Disabled Center on Friday morning, May 27, 2011. He was introduced by Kevin M. Lynch of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans.

Medicare & Social Security Hero Award

The Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans Celebrates the Anniversary of Medicare/Presentation of the Medicare & Social Security Hero Award to Congressman John Larson/July 29th, 2011 at Hartford Hospital.

ARA endorsement, 2012

Alliance for Retired Americans endorsed John B. Larson in 2012.

Chained CPI

July 2013, over 50 members of Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans (CT ARA) along with our Labor and Community allies worked together to create a human chain across the street from the Federal Building in New Haven to protest the chained CPI. Bette Marafino, President of Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans organized the group into a human chain.

Noted speakers included Lisa Perrone Chief of staff for Congressman John B. Larson, Marilyn Cheyne staff for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Win Heimer CT ARA board member read a statement from Congressman Joe Courtney in opposition of the Chained CPI, Manny Gomez newly elected CT ARA board member representing the New Haven People's Center spoke about the importance of Social Security , Jade our youngest participant (12 years old!) explained that Social Security needs to be there for her when she is older, Connecticut AFL-CIO President John Olsen commented that Social Security provides retirement security for millions of Americans. Mark Henson District Director for Congressman Jim Himes greeted attendees. Our Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy were unable to attend. However, CT ARA President Bette Marafino assured our group that both Senators do oppose Chained CPI and both have signed on to Senator Harkins bill S567.

ARA endorsement, 2014

The Alliance for Retired Americans Political Action Fund endorsed John B. Larson in 2014.

CARA 2022 endorsement

Leading up to Labor Day in 2022, the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) gathered to endorse worker rights champion Rep. Jahana Hayes for re-election in the 5th Congressional District, a battleground targeted by the national Republican Party and corporate funding sources re-take control of the House of Representatives.

Representing more than 59,000 members from many unions, the CT ARA also endorsed US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. John B. Larson and Rep. Joe Courtney for their 100% voting records on senior issues and commitment to oppose privatization of Social Security at the top of the Republican agenda.

ARA 2024 endorsement

CARA meeting

Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans President Bette Marafino, Vice President Win Heimer and Board Member Kevin Lynch met with Connecticut Congressman John Larson (CD 1), February 6, 2015, at 221 Main St., Hartford, CT.

Second CARA meeting

February 17 · Mary Elia and Win Heimer with Congressman John Larson

Mary Elia - Congressman Larson helped author HR 2100 which will secure and improve Social Security for generations.

CARA Spring Forum

CARA 2015 medicare event

Mary Elia, Bette Marafino, Marilyn Tyszka, Win Heimer, William Tyszka, Kevin M. Lynch and Cong. John Larson

Rep. Larson keynoted a CARA August 10, 2015 Medicare 50th Anniversary event.

Social Security 2100

Social Security 2100, a plan reintroduced by Congressman John B. Larson and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, would finally do away with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)—penalties that unfairly reduce or erase the retirement benefits that teachers and other public servants deserve.

Speaking at the Farmington Senior Center June 2023, Larson—a longtime advocate for Social Security reform—and Hayes—Connecticut and National Teacher of the Year—were joined by CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans President Bette Marafino, Connecticut AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne, CSEA SEIU Local 2001 President Travis Woodward, AFGE Local 1164 Area 1 Vice President Sherry Jackson, AFSCME Council 4 President Stacie Harris-Byrdsong, and Paralyzed Veterans of America New England Region President Brad Carlson.

“It’s time for us to bring Social Security into this century,” said Larson, noting that he looks forward to working with CEA and other organizations to make that happen. “We’re out to not only preserve and protect Social Security but expand it, and there’s no better person we could have fighting for that here in Connecticut or anywhere in the country than Jahana Hayes. It takes someone with an understanding of how Social Security impacts her fellow teachers and others who have been unfairly penalized by WEP and GPO. It’s important to have a leader in Congress who understands all of this.”

“I can tell you that while we are having this conversation at a senior center, my goal is to expand this conversation,” said Hayes, “because young people need to know how critical Social Security is and why we need to shore up and invest in the largest retirement insurance program and anti-poverty program we have.”

Labor support 2010

New Britain, Ct, Nov. 4, 2010 – A massive get-out-the-vote campaign targeted to Council 4 AFSCME members and their families made the difference in helping Dannel Malloy and other pro-worker candidates get elected in Connecticut, the union said today.

“Connecticut voters echoed what our union members were saying as they headed tothe polls: everyone deserves quality affordable health care, secure retirement and fair taxes,” Council 4 Executive Director Sal Luciano noted.

All of Council 4’s endorsed candidates prevailed in races for Governor (Malloy), Lt. Governor (Nancy Wyman), Attorney General (George Jepsen), Comptroller (Kevin Lembo), Treasurer (Denise Nappier and Secretary of State (Denise Merrill). Council 4- endorsed candidates also won their races for U.S. Senate (Richard Blumenthal) and Congress (John B. Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes and Chris Murphy).

“We used people power to counteract corporate and wealthy donors pushing their anti-union agenda,” Luciano said.

Anna Montalvo, President of AFSCME Local 1522 in Bridgeport, said union members grasped the high stakes in the election:

“Right from the start of this campaign we had our boots on the ground, whether for Dan Malloy or Jim Himes or Chris Murphy. Connecticut staved off the anti-working family tide that swept the nation,” said Montalvo, who co-chairs Council 4’s political action committee.

Labor support 2012

Powered by the grass-roots efforts of union members who made phone calls, knocked on doors, talked to their co-workers and attended Get Out The Vote events, labor-endorsed candidates swept to victory in the Nov. 6 election.

The list starts with President Barack Obama and Chris Murphy -- who withstood Linda McMahon's $47 million effort to buy the 2012 U.S. Senate seat -- and Elizabeth Esty, who defeated the well-funded campaign of Republican Andrew Roraback in the 5th Congressional District.

"This was a victory for the middle class," said Council 4 Executive Director Sal Luciano. "Our members refused to allow corporations and right-wing billionaires to buy the election and ram through their extremist, anti-worker agenda. I am proud and grateful for everyone's effort."

AFSCME-endorsed candidates John B. Larson (1st Congressional District), Joe Courtney (2nd), Rosa DeLauro (3rd) and Jim Himes (4th) also were reelected, winning by sizeable margins.

Council 4 members Blair Bertaccini (Local 269), Tom Lukowicz (Local 1183) and Esma Ajruli (background), Local 714 phone-banked on election eve.

CAIR-CT "FAITH IN FREEDOM" FUNDRAISING DINNER

MSA-CT is teaming up with CAIR-CT again for their annual fundraising dinner!

"I hope you can join us for this great event. Please fill out the form online to secure your table or ticket and show your generous support for CAIR!!!

The event will take place on Sunday, December 22, 2013 at the West Hartford Conference Center (Town Hall), 50 Main Street, West Hartford CT, and promises to be both inspiring and motivating.

The theme of our 9th annual banquet, Faith in Freedom, speaks to the resilience of our community and our continued involvement in the fight to uphold justice for all. Our keynote speaker will be attorney Norm Pattis, who will speak on “Islamophobia – 3 Faces of the New Racism”. We will also be joined by Imam Siraj Wahhaj from Masjid At-Taqwa in New York, Susan Campbell of the Hartford Courant, and attorney Hassan Shibly the Executive Director of CAIR in Florida. Other invited speakers include Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy, and Congressman John B. Larson.

AFSCME conference

AFSCME's Council 4's annual conference and convention took place April 21, 2012 in East Hartford. Nearly 200 members participated in a day filled with inspiring speakers, including U.S. Reps. John B. Larson (CT-1), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Chris Murphy (CT-5), Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Comptroller Kevin Lembo and Secretary of State Denise Merrill.

The conference closed with the presentation of Council 4 PEOPLE political action awards to Tom Stough (Local 991, Manchester), Jon Green of the Working Families Party, and State Sen. Edwin Gomes of Bridgeport (with Anna Montalvo accepting on Sen. Gomes’ behalf).

PDA contact

In 2013 Progressive Democrats of America assigned activists to deliver their material to almost every US Congressman and Senator, Bruce Stanley, and Nina Sakun were assigned as the contacts for Rep. Larson.

Syria meeting

Standing before about 100 people packed into a meeting room Monday at West Hartford Town Hall, local attorney Margaret P. Levy laid out why she believes that a U.S. strike against Syria would be a mistake.

"The notion that we could go in and strike and get out quickly is just not borne out," said Levy, who is 68 and has been active in the peace movement.

"None of us wants to get into a 10-year war. ... It just seems really important to not go in ... there seems to be no benefit to doing so."

Levy was among those who turned out on a steamy Labor Day, 2013, afternoon to press their congressman, John Larson, on Syria. The crowd spilled out into the hallway as citizens waited to ask questions and share their opinions on whether the U.S. ought to launch a punitive attack on the Syrian government.

Amina Masri, who left Syria about 10 years ago and now lives in Glastonbury, said she backs a limited military response. "I don't want people from here to die there, that's not what I want, said Masri, a 30-year-old homemaker who brought her two daughters to Monday's meeting. "But we know this is a great country, they can find where [Assad's] weapons are stored, and they can teach him a lesson that you cannot use chemical weapons.

But many in the crowd said they were weary of war and expressed a deep skepticism about the president's plan to seek congressional approval for a strike. "I firmly believe we should stay the hell out, said Win Heimer, a longtime Democratic activist from West Hartford. "The billions of dollars we're spending in Afghanistan, and in that whole area, could be used to increase our infrastructure here, housing education, health care, you name it."

Dr. Albert Geetter, 78, said he believes that the U.S. should act only if it has international support. "Congress has been feckless and the president has painted himself into a corner, said Geetter, who served in a military hospital during the Vietnam War. "They've got to face the reality ... and go out into the international community. ... I don't think we're going to be at all effective if we act unilaterally."

Larson, a Democrat who represents the Hartford region, said he is not completely sold on Obama's plan. He said the open-ended draft resolution initially proposed by the administration will be reworked, with a greater emphasis on the involvement of other nations.

But Larson was impressed by the turnout at the town hall-style event. "People didn't really want to hear from me," he said. "They wanted for me to listen to them."

Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter

December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Greg Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...

In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...

Signatories included John B. Larson.

2015 Cuba trip

Larson, Udall, Franken, Grijalva

On May 25th 2015. U.S. Senator Tom Udall (Dem., NM), the author of a bill to expand U.S. telecommunications trade with Cuba (S.1389), led a delegation of fellow Democrats on a visit to Cuba: Senator Al Franken (MN) and Congressmen Raul Grijalva (AZ) and John B. Larson (CT), all of whom support ending the U.S. embargo of Cuba. Their visit included a meeting with Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, as well as meetings with Cuba’s Ministries of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment and Agriculture as well as self-employed members of small cooperatives and investors from foreign countries.

At a May 27th press conference in Havana at the end of their trip, Senator Udall noted that the U.S. designation of Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism” would end in two days (May 29th) and asserted his belief that “it will be a matter of weeks when we have restored diplomatic relations.”

WFP connection

2008 WFP endorsement

Working Families Party endorsed Joe Courtney in 2008.

The Working Families Party endorsed three candidates for US Congress: Jim Himes, Joe Courtney and John B. Larson in the 1st. Each of the candidates will be listed on the ballot in November twice: once on their party's line and once on the line of the Working Families Party.

"Working Families supports candidates who we know will fight for the bread and butter issues that really matter to most of Connecticut's hard working families: good jobs, affordable healthcare, fair taxes, and good schools,"

said Brian Petronella, co-chair of the Working Families Party and president of the United Food and Commercial Workers local 371.

"That's why we're endorsing Jim Himes, Joe Courtney and John Larson."

"Votes on the Working Families Party line still count for your candidate, but tell politicians something about your values: that you think Connecticut's working and middle class families deserve a fair deal on housing, jobs and schools,"

said Sal Luciano, executive director of AFSCME Coucil 4, and member of the Working Families Party State Committee.

"Pep talk"

ohn B. Larson at the Working Families Party

October 10, Jon Green, the party's executive director, said Working Families has been focusing its door-to-door canvassers on working-class neighborhoods with high percentages of unaffiliated voters.

"The response is pretty good," Green said.

U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, delivered a pep talk Thursday before the canvassers fanned out from its Hartford headquarters for another day of door-knocking.

Larson said the door-to-door campaigning is an "old-school" counterbalance to "the obscene amount of money that's been spent" in the 2010 races for Congress and statewide office in Connecticut.

"The only way that we'll succeed is by doing it the old-fashioned way, getting them out to vote," Larson said. "So, after all the money that's been spent, and everything that goes down, it all comes down to the next several days in getting the vote out."

Larson said later he was not bothered that part of Working Families' appeal is to voters who are turned off by the major parties.

The Working Families Party, which has brought New York's tradition of fusion politics to Connecticut, has cross-endorsed the top of the Democratic ticket, starting with the nominee for governor, Dan Malloy.

Larson said he views the Working Families as one of many branches of the Democratic coalition that ranges from organized labor to the conservative Blue Dog Democrats.

"It's like another caucus of the Democratic Party. Their instincts are all Democratic, but they want to make sure they've got a spot at the table," Larson said. "I get it. I understand it. We're a big tent."

2010 endorsement

The Working Families Party, cross-endorsed all the Democratic incumbents running for Congress in 2010, John B. Larson, Jim Himes, and Joe Courtney.

2014 endorsement

The Working Families Party cross-endorsed Larson in 2014, and he appeared on the ballot under their party’s ballot line as well.

Condemning Criticism of Islam legislation

On December 17, 2015, Rep. Don Beyer, Jr. introduced legislation condemning "violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States." The legislation is based on unsourced claims that there is a "rise of hateful and anti-Muslim speech, violence, and cultural ignorance," and a "disproportionate targeting" of "Muslim women who wear hijabs, headscarves, or other religious articles of clothing...because of their religious clothing, articles, or observances." The resolution, H.Res.569 - Condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States

The legislation was cosponsored by Rep. Michael Honda, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Joseph Crowley, Rep. Andre Carson, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Dan Kildee, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Brad Ashford, Rep. Alan Grayson, Rep. Mark Takai, Rep. Brian Higgins, Rep. William Keating, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Rep. Michael Quigley, Rep. Elizabeth Esty, Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Rep. Greg Meeks, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep. Sam Farr, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Jim McDermott, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Donna Edwards, Rep. Robert Brady, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Michael Doyle, Rep. Albio Sires, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. David Loebsack, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, Rep. John Yarmuth, Rep. Niki Tsongas, Rep. Jim Langevin, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, Rep. Jose Serrano, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Lois Capps, Rep. David Price, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Denny Heck, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. John Carney, Rep. Xavier Becerra, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. John B. Larson, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Peter Welch, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Matt Cartwright.

Russia/Trump Forum

Russia's alleged interference in the U.S. presidential election and the resulting congressional investigations were key topics during a forum April 2017 at the Mark Twain House & Museum involving three of Connecticut's U.S. Representatives.

John B. Larson, D-1st District; Joe Courtney, D-2nd District; and Jim Himes, D-4th District, took part in the discussion of major foreign affairs issues.

Larson is one of the most senior members of the House, Himes is a member of the House Intelligence Committee, and Courtney is on the House Armed Services Committee.

President Donald Trump has consistently derided allegations that Russia actively sought to help his 2016 campaign as fake news. But questions surrounding Russia's involvement have continued to plague Trump's administration and Democratic and Republican congressional leaders have vowed to conduct thorough investigations into the potentially explosive issue.

Wednesday's forum was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m.

Trump's Russia ties

Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation joined demands for a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation of Russian influence on the 2016 election after President Donald Trump fired James Comey as FBI director Tuesday May 9, 2017.

“The need for a special prosecutor is now crystal clear,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who has called for a special prosecutor in the past. “President Trump has catastrophically compromised the FBI’s ongoing investigation of his own White House’s ties to Russia.”

In describing the gravity of Trump’s action, Blumenthal conjured memories of President Richard Nixon’s firing of Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox.

“Not since Watergate have our legal systems been so threatened, and our faith in the independence and integrity of those systems so shaken,” Blumenthal said.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, which is conducting its own investigation into possible ties with Russia, said , “The White House cited Director Comey’s handling of the investigation into Secretary Clinton’s emails as the reason for the firing, but many will be rightly skeptical of that explanation.”

“Whatever the merits of Director Comey’s decisions, the investigated has just fired the investigator,” Himes said. “That should never have occurred prior to the full and complete insulation of the FBI’s investigation through the appointment of an independent prosecutor and other measures.”

“I will do everything in my power to ensure that this irresponsible move doesn’t end the necessary work law enforcement is conducting to discover the truth about Russia, its interference in our democracy and any and all who might be complicit,” Himes said.

Sen. Chris Murphy joined Blumenthal in calling for a special prosecutor Wednesday morning.

“No matter the mistakes that Director Comey has made, the timing of his firing clearly suggests that President Trump is trying to influence or upend the FBI’s investigation into his campaign’s possible collusion with a foreign government,” Murphy said Wednesday morning.

“The president’s continued refusal to support the appointment of a special prosecutor would confirm America’s worst fears about the motivation for Comey’s firing,” Murphy added.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said the firing of Comey while he was “spearheading” the Russia investigation “does not pass the smell test.”

“It is painfully clear that we need an immediate and independent investigation of all aspects relating to Russia’s meddling in our election. We need a review that the American people can have faith in,” Courtney said.

Courtney said the fact that Trump’s action was recommended by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whom he called “a political appointee who barely survived confirmation in the Senate,” raised more doubt about the motives behind the firing.

Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, said the White House has shown a “corrosive pattern of disinformation and obstruction” over the last four months, which has “impeded the public’s ability to determine the full truth” about possible Russian interference.

“The only solution that will restore public trust is for Congress to appoint a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation,” Esty said Wednesday morning.

Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, said demanding an independent investigation should not be a partisan issue.

“The firing of FBI Director James Comey should renew every American and every member of Congress’s call for an independent investigation into Russian involvement,” Larson said.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, said the White House must provide “an urgent and thorough explanation” for its decision, given the ongoing FBI investigation into Russian interference.

“These events further underscore why I have continued to demand an independent commission with subpoena power in order to get to the bottom of the Russia investigation,” DeLauro said Wednesday morning.

HR 109 endorser

By February 20 2019 endorsers of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's HR 109 (Green New Deal) included John B. Larson.

External links

• Larson's website with the House of Representatives

References

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