Watchdogs Call On President Trump To Let Special Counsel Mueller Do His Job
Watchdogs Call On President Trump To Let Special Counsel Mueller Do His Job Without Any Presidential Interference
In a letter sent to President Donald Trump today, watchdog groups and experts expressed their deep concern about Trump’s attacks on the Justice Department’s reported investigation into whether the President has committed obstruction of justice with regard to the Department’s ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
According to the letter:
We write to strongly urge you to let Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the professional staffs of the FBI and the Department of Justice conduct their investigation without any presidential interference.
The signers of the letter include: American Oversight, Common Cause, CREW, Democracy 21, Every Voice, Ambassador (ret.), Norman Eisen, chief White House ethics lawyer, 2009-2011, Public Citizen, Richard Painter, Chief White House ethics lawyer, 2005-2007, Sunlight Foundation, The Revolving Door Project, and United to Protect Democracy. (Signature list updated: June 22, 2017)
According to the letter, President Trump himself triggered the Justice Department investigation into whether he obstructed justice by “your decision to fire FBI Director James Comey and your statements that indicated you did so to stop the Russia-related investigative activity.”
The letter cited President Trump’s statements to Russian officials in the White House: “I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job.” Trump further said, “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
The letter pointed out that President Trump had recently attacked the integrity of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Special Counsel Mueller and who the President had previously praised.
According to the letter, President Trump said about Rosenstein last month, “He’s highly respected — very good guy, very smart guy. The Democrats like him. The Republicans like him.”
The letter also noted that Vice President Mike Pence had similarly praised Rosenstein last month, stating, “He is a man of extraordinary independence and integrity and a reputation in both political parties of great character.”
According to the letter to President Trump, Rosenstein’s “reputation is well deserved according to Republicans and Democrats alike who have praised Mr. Rosenstein for his decades of public service as a law enforcement official.”
The letter continued:
“Your attack on Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein is baseless.
“Despite your efforts to imply that Mr. Rosenstein was responsible for your firing Mr. Comey, you have publicly stated that you had already decided to fire Mr. Comey before receiving a memo from Mr. Rosenstein raising concerns about Mr. Comey’s role at the FBI.”
The letter further stated:
“In recent days, you have attacked the credibility of Special Counsel Mueller. These attacks are meritless and wholly unwarranted.
“Special Counsel Mueller is uniquely qualified to lead the investigation he is conducting. He has an impeccable reputation and unquestionable integrity.”
According to the letter:
“Mr. Mueller served the nation as a Marine officer in Vietnam during the war. He served our country as FBI Director following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Mr. Mueller was appointed to head the FBI by Republican President George W. Bush in 2001. He was asked to continue serving in that position by President Barack Obama in 2009. Mr. Mueller played key roles for decades in enforcing the nation’s laws against criminal activity. This included serving as Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, and as United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, appointed by President Bill Clinton.
“Thus, four Presidents – including two Republican and two Democratic Presidents – have shown their faith in Mr. Mueller by appointing him to serve in top government law enforcement positions.”
The letter further stated:
“There have been reports that you are considering ways to remove Special Counsel Mueller. Taking such an action would be a profound mistake and a grave disservice to the American people. It would correctly be taken as an admission of guilt by you.
“The Special Counsel must be able to proceed with a full investigation of the Russia case, including whether you have engaged in obstruction of justice, free from outside interference or baseless attacks by you.”
According to the letter, “Mr. Mueller’s appointment as Special Counsel was widely praised by Republican and Democratic members of Congress.” The letter quotes congressional Republicans who have rejected the suggestion that Mueller should be fired.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “I have a lot of confidence in Bob Mueller. I think it was a good choice.”
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said, “I think the best thing to do is to let Robert Mueller do his job. I think the best vindication for the president is to let this investigation go on independent and thoroughly.”
Republican Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said “I’ve seen no reason” that warrants firing Mueller and further said that he trusts Mueller.
Republican Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said about firing Mueller, “It would be a catastrophic mistake.”
Republican Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that firing Mueller is “ridiculous to even consider or talk about.” Corker also said “I cannot possibly imagine the President terminating Bob Mueller,” he said. “I mean it’s — it just cannot happen.”
Republican Representative Mark Sanford said about firing Mueller, “I think it’s a form of political suicide. If you fire one guy, then you fire another, all of a sudden it begins to look like you’re trying to hide something, look like you have a reason to want the investigations to go away.”
Republican Senator Lindsay Graham said firing Mueller “would be a disaster. There’s no reason to fire Mueller. What’s he done to be fired?”
According to the letter:
“History tells us why it would be wise to heed the advice of these members of Congress.
“In 1973, President Nixon, facing an investigation by the Justice Department, ordered the firing of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox. This led to the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus, both of whom refused to fire Cox, who was then fired by Solicitor General Robert Bork.
“Known as the ‘Saturday night massacre,’ the steps taken by President Nixon triggered a constitutional crisis and led to the end of the Nixon presidency. Firing Mr. Mueller will trigger another constitutional crisis and head you down the same path that President Nixon took.”
The letter concluded:
We strongly urge you to promptly make clear to the American people that you will not interfere with Mr. Mueller in carrying out his responsibilities as Special Counsel or with the work of his Justice Department and FBI colleagues in connection with the Special Counsel’s investigation.
