The iOpener: Jordan Calls for End to Congressional Probes of Trump; Tribes' Ramirez Out With Bruise

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Monday, March 25, 2019. What would you like to see happen next, now that Attorney General Bill Barr has released a summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's findings?  Let us know.  Call our Listener Contribution line at 216-916-6476 or post your comment to our Facebook page.

The reactions to the findings of the Mueller Report among Ohio’s Congressional delegation have been swift.  Republican congressman Jim Jordan says congressional investigations into President Trump should end.  Jordan is the top Republican on the House Oversight and Reform Committee.  Fellow Republican Congressman Bill Johnson called the investigation of President Trump a “fabricated hoax” perpetuated by Democrats who could not accept Trump’s victory in 2016.

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan are calling for a release of the full report, with Brown Tweeting that “a summary report” of Mueller’s findings “is not enough.” Some Republicans, including Sen. Rob Portman, say the full report should be released.

Eastlake police are calling for civility after a community uproar over their arrest of a man who allegedly assaulted a suspected child rapist.  In a statement on their Facebook page, police acknowledged receiving “numerous” communications from people expressing “frustrations” with the arrest of 20-year-old Richard Adams of Painesville.  Police said Adams began fighting with a 17-year-old male he had allegedly caught last week in the act of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy.  Police said they’re “diligently working” to ensure “justice is served,” but “attacking people within the system to achieve a certain outcome is not what justice is about.” 

Former Middleburg Heights mayor Gary Starr is facing another lawsuit.  Cleveland.com reports the latest one was filed on March 1 by owners of a 65-acre property who say Starr and three others repeatedly interfered with their attempts to sell the land.   Starr, who resigned last December after 37 years in office, has faced multiple lawsuits filed by former employees.  Several have been settled, but two are still active.

The Indians are breathing a sigh of relief after X-rays showed no bone break for third baseman Jose Ramirez. The two-time All Star fouled a pitch off the inside of his left knee in the Indians’ final spring training game Sunday.  Manager Terry Francona said Ramirez suffered a bruise and is “day to day.”  Ramirez will not play in the Tribes’ opening day game against the Twins in Minnesota.  Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis will also start the season on the injured list.

The New York Giants’ president and co-owner John Mara says it’s not going to be easy watching Odell Beckham Jr. playing for the Cleveland Browns. He said trading his star wide receiver was “a reluctant decision,” but one he made for picks in next month’s NFL draft.   “We have a lot of holes we need to fill,” he said.  The Giants went 5-11 last season.

The Milwaukee Bucks trounced the Cavs, 127-105. The Cavs upset the NBA-leading Bucks last week, but with a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup, they could not keep up.  The Greek Freak led both teams with 26 points.  Kevin Love had a team-best 20 points and a season-high 19 rebounds for Cleveland.

Weather Forecast: Cloudy, then gradually clearing.  High 39.  Tonight, clear, low 26.  Right now a few clouds, 37 degrees.