Murray sees ‘cloud of corruption’ around Trump after developments in court cases

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., called Paul Manafort’s convictions and Michael Cohen’s guilty pleas “another sad and stark reminder of the growing cloud of corruption and criminal activities” around President Donald Trump.

“These developments are real, they are serious and they underscore the importance of allowing Robert Mueller to continue to follow the facts, wherever they may lead, to get the answers Americans deserve,” she said in a statement released Tuesday by her staff.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, her Democratic seatmate in Washington, didn’t directly address Tuesday’s developments, although a spokesman said she has consistently said throughout the Mueller investigation that no one is above the law.

Republicans avoided comment about the court proceedings.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Spokane Republican who is the fourth-highest member of the House Majority Caucus, didn’t address the court actions in her appearances Tuesday, a spokesman said.

“I don’t think we have anything to add at this point,” spokesman Jared Powell said.

Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, did not have a comment on the court proceedings involving the former Trump associates, his staff said in an email. Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and 1st District Rep. Raul Labrador did not respond to requests for comment.