The New York Times has now reported what we’ve long suspected: Trump wants to fire Special Counsel Mueller, and has already tried to do so. His attorney prevented the firing, but that doesn’t mean that the independent investigation is safe. A smear campaign among Trump and the GOP continues to frame Mueller and his investigation as illegitimate, and Congress has so far failed to enact protections for the Special Counsel’s office.
The investigation has already yielded a string of high-profile indictments.General Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor to Trump, has reached a plea deal with the Special Counsel in which Flynn agreed to cooperate with the investigation after admitting to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was indicted on several charges, including conspiracy against the United States. (Let that sink in: the person who managed Trump’s presidential campaign has now been charged with conspiracy against the United States.) Manafort’s associate Rick Gates has also been indicted, and Trump campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos has pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his communications with Russia. Special Counsel Mueller has also indicted thirteen Russians on allegations of interfering in the U.S. elections.
These developments are the latest evidence that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation continues to get closer to the truth. That means he, and those associated with his investigation (including Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein), are even more at risk of being fired by Donald Trump.
SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT
Call Mike Turner at 202-225-6465
Call Rob Portman at 202-224-3353
Call Sherrod Brown at 202-224-2315
Caller: Hi! I’m a constituent from [part of state] I’m calling to urge [MoC] to use every tool in the toolbox to prevent Trump from firing Special Counsel Mueller or otherwise impeding the investigation, such as by firing Rod Rosenstein. I’m concerned he may do that, launching a constitutional crisis. Will [MoC] speak out and tell the President that firing Mueller would be a red line he must not cross?
Staffer: Thank you for your call. [MoC] is monitoring the various investigations closely and is letting them run their course.
Caller: That’s good, but it’s really important for Congress to assert its power now to prevent Trump from firing Mueller. I’d like to see [MoC] issue a clear statement on this, and co-sponsor [H.R. 5476/S. 2644] to show [his/her] support for protecting Mueller and the investigation.
Staffer: We’ll take a look at that legislation.
Caller: Great, I’ll be following to see if [MoC] co-sponsors and speaks out on this.