Senators remain split on news reports that the Intelligence Committee has subpoened Donald Trump Junior.

The Associated Press and other news outlets reported the panel is calling in President Donald Trump's son to answer questions about his 2017 testimony to the panel as part of its probe into Russian election interference.

The special counsel's report on Russia and the 2016 election notes some contradictions in what Trump Jr. told the Senate committee and what some witnesses told special counsel investigators.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters it was, at some point, not about finding facts.

"This smacks of politics and I think we have an important job to do to try to keep the intelligence committee out of politics," he said.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) countered, "my hunch is that details now public through the Mueller report make it clear he wasn't truthful."

Washington - 9 May 2019

1. Wide of Sen. Cornyn with a reporter

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John Cornyn, (R) Texas:

"My understanding is Mr. Trump Junior has cooperated extensively with the committee. I can understand his frustration at being asked to come back after having cooperated for such a long period of time and seeing now that this -- the Mueller report has concluded. For wondering what the purpose of this is. I'm going to talk to the chairman and the committee members about what we need to do to wrap up our investigations at some point. This is not about finding out facts. This smacks of politics and I think we have one important job to do to try to keep the Intelligence Committee out of politics and just keep ourselves focused on our mission which is oversight of the intelligence community and finding out what went wrong and how we can stop it in the future."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ron Wyden, (D) Oregon:

"My concern is that there is troubling evidence that suggests that Donald Trump Junior, and this is a public, troubling public evidence that he hasn't been truthful about the family's involvement with business in Russia, particularly, Moscow tower. Michael Cohen testified that he had briefed Donald Trump Junior something like 10 times on all of this. And Donald Trump Junior publicly denied any knowledge of this."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut :

"I've said repeatedly that his answers to questions, and I watched him, were smart aleckly, untruthful and misleading. So I want to hear about what the truth is as to what he said to his father about the meeting in Trump Tower with Russian agents. Why he said he was only peripherally aware the negotiations on the Moscow negotiations when in fact he was in the thick of it.  He truly misled the judiciary committee and now he needs to be held accountable to those answers about the Moscow Trump Tower meeting - meeting with Russian agents and other negotiations really need to be answered.

(Reporter) "What happens if he doesn't comply?

(Blumenthal) He ought to be held in contempt and there is no question with Donald Trump Junior about any sort of privilege to avoid this kind of questioning. If he fails to answer, he ought to be put in jail. If he fails to comply with a lawful subpoena, he has no privilege. Prison is the only answer."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut:

"The message of this subpoena is there are still glimmers of bipartisan respect for the rule of law. President Trump has done everything possible to demonstrate ais degrading disrespect for the Constitution of United States. This effort by the Senate Intelligence Committee to preserve the rule of law gives a real glimmer of hope in an otherwise autocratic and imperial presidency."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chris Coons, (D) Delaware :

"I think it's a striking development that the Senate Intelligence Committee on a bipartisan basis has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump Junior. He testified both in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. And my hunch is that details now public through the Mueller report make it clear he wasn't truthful. That's ultimately going to be up to the Senate Intelligence Committee to determine. But I think this is one of many reminders that this is not case closed."

Senators remain split on news reports that the Intelligence Committee has subpoened Donald Trump Junior.

The Associated Press and other news outlets reported the panel is calling in President Donald Trump's son to answer questions about his 2017 testimony to the panel as part of its probe into Russian election interference.

The special counsel's report on Russia and the 2016 election notes some contradictions in what Trump Jr. told the Senate committee and what some witnesses told special counsel investigators.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters it was, at some point, not about finding facts.

"This smacks of politics and I think we have an important job to do to try to keep the intelligence committee out of politics," he said.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) countered, "my hunch is that details now public through the Mueller report make it clear he wasn't truthful."

Washington - 9 May 2019

1. Wide of Sen. Cornyn with a reporter

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John Cornyn, (R) Texas:

"My understanding is Mr. Trump Junior has cooperated extensively with the committee. I can understand his frustration at being asked to come back after having cooperated for such a long period of time and seeing now that this -- the Mueller report has concluded. For wondering what the purpose of this is. I'm going to talk to the chairman and the committee members about what we need to do to wrap up our investigations at some point. This is not about finding out facts. This smacks of politics and I think we have one important job to do to try to keep the Intelligence Committee out of politics and just keep ourselves focused on our mission which is oversight of the intelligence community and finding out what went wrong and how we can stop it in the future."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ron Wyden, (D) Oregon:

"My concern is that there is troubling evidence that suggests that Donald Trump Junior, and this is a public, troubling public evidence that he hasn't been truthful about the family's involvement with business in Russia, particularly, Moscow tower. Michael Cohen testified that he had briefed Donald Trump Junior something like 10 times on all of this. And Donald Trump Junior publicly denied any knowledge of this."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut :

"I've said repeatedly that his answers to questions, and I watched him, were smart aleckly, untruthful and misleading. So I want to hear about what the truth is as to what he said to his father about the meeting in Trump Tower with Russian agents. Why he said he was only peripherally aware the negotiations on the Moscow negotiations when in fact he was in the thick of it.  He truly misled the judiciary committee and now he needs to be held accountable to those answers about the Moscow Trump Tower meeting - meeting with Russian agents and other negotiations really need to be answered.

(Reporter) "What happens if he doesn't comply?

(Blumenthal) He ought to be held in contempt and there is no question with Donald Trump Junior about any sort of privilege to avoid this kind of questioning. If he fails to answer, he ought to be put in jail. If he fails to comply with a lawful subpoena, he has no privilege. Prison is the only answer."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut:

"The message of this subpoena is there are still glimmers of bipartisan respect for the rule of law. President Trump has done everything possible to demonstrate ais degrading disrespect for the Constitution of United States. This effort by the Senate Intelligence Committee to preserve the rule of law gives a real glimmer of hope in an otherwise autocratic and imperial presidency."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chris Coons, (D) Delaware :

"I think it's a striking development that the Senate Intelligence Committee on a bipartisan basis has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump Junior. He testified both in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. And my hunch is that details now public through the Mueller report make it clear he wasn't truthful. That's ultimately going to be up to the Senate Intelligence Committee to determine. But I think this is one of many reminders that this is not case closed."