As Flynn Flips, Wyden Speaks Out on Russia Investigation: "Follow the Trail of Dead Bodies"

Oregon Senator on key U.S. Senate committee made the comment today in a PBS interview.

Sen. Ron Wyden (Joe Riedl)

This week, WW reported that U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wanted to keep Senate Intelligence Committee investigation of the Donald Trump administration's alleged ties to foreign gangsters, oligarchs and spies focused on the money trail. Today, he went further.

"You also ought to follow the trail of dead bodies," Wyden told PBS Newshour following the first day of public Senate Intelligence Committee hearings on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

As Wyden told Newshour's Judy Woodruff:

Wyden appeared to be referencing the December death in London of former KGB chief Oleg Erovinkin, who was reportedly a suspected source in the "golden showers" dossier on Trump by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, another potential witness for Senate investigators. (The Russian agency known as the KGB is no more, although the acronym for that Soviet-era foreign intelligence service is often used in place of its modern-day counterpart, the FSB.)

Related: What ties Trump to Russia? Read our cover story on Ron Wyden's search for answers.

Wyden also told Woodruff that the investigation needs to move more quickly.

It looks like Wyden might get his wish: The Wall Street Journal reported today that Trump's former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, who was fired after having gotten caught lying about his communications with the late Russian ambassador Sergey Kislayak, has offered to provide testimony to investigators in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.