After House Judiciary Committee Republicans last week killed Democratic resolution calling on the Department of Justice to provide Congress with documentation on President Trump’s conflicts of business interests and ties to Russia, Politico reported:

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) called the resolution “unnecessary, premature” and driven by politics. Instead, he said Republican members of the committee are drafting a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting his voluntary cooperation in any investigation related to Russia and Trump’s business conflicts — with Democrats encouraged to sign on.

On Wednesday the letter emerged. However it was not sent to Sessions– who has recused himself from investigations relating to Trump’s presidential campaign– but to FBI director James Comey. And although the letter was signed by Goodlatte and every other Republican member of the committee except one, not a single Democrat signed on.

The letter requests a briefing from Comey on two matters: “Russia’s alleged interference in the U.S. election” and “the very serious allegations that the President and/or his associates were or are under surveillance.” The letter notably does not ask for information on Trump’s business conflicts, which may well include ties to Russia.

There is abundant evidence of Russia’s interference in the election. There is absolutely no evidence to support Trump’s bizarre tweet claiming that President Obama ordered a wiretap of Trump Tower. In fact Comey asked the Justice Department to publicly reject Trump’s assertion.

The effort by Goodlatte and the Republicans to equate an issue of critical concern with a product of Trump’s paranoia indicates their utter lack of seriousness. No wonder the Democrats refused to sign on.