Tell Rep. McSally: Protect our Democracy! Protect Mueller!

On May 17, 2017, Representative Martha McSally released the following statement in response to reports that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the Department of Justice’s investigation into Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 election. “The Justice Department’s naming of former FBI Director Robert Mueller today as special counsel to oversee the ongoing investigation into Russia’s meddling in our election is the right decision at this time. Director Mueller is someone who is free of politics, most recently demonstrated in 2011 when the Senate voted 100-0 to extend his term as FBI Director for two years. He has a long and distinguished career in law enforcement and a tremendously in-depth understanding of the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I look forward to an expeditious conclusion to this investigation in order to provide answers to the questions the American people are asking and I think former Director Mueller is a great choice to do just that."

Congress has the authority and responsibility to hold Trump accountable. Call Rep. Martha McSally and demand that she protect Mueller. Click below for a sample script and the number to call:

In a move that even conservative legal scholars are calling unconstitutional, Donald Trump fired Jeff Sessions last week and installed a stooge, Matthew Whitaker, as acting attorney general.1 Whitaker, who has spent months complaining about Robert Mueller's investigation and openly laying out plans to destroy it, is now his supervisor.2Democrats and even some Republicans are now talking about legislation to protect the independence and integrity of Mueller's investigation.3,4 This is a huge reckoning for our democracy. To save the investigation into Trump's Russia ties, we need every member of Congress to assert their authority now and put a check on Trump during the lame-duck session of Congress. Contact your representative Martha McSally to ask that she do everything she can to pass legislation to protect Mueller before the end of the year. Click here for a sample script and the number to call. (520) 881-3588 https://mcsally.house.gov/contact/email Whitaker's qualifications for the role would be unlikely to pass muster in a Senate confirmation, but Trump is circumventing Congress by appointing Whitaker – under dubious use of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act – into a temporary role.5 Even a short-term appointment is enough time for Whitaker to do real damage. Given his history of lambasting Mueller's investigation, it is evident that if Congress fails to step in, Whitaker will undermine Mueller's work. Just one day after Trump installed Whitaker, more than 100,000 people mobilized in protest and reports indicated that the White House was surprised by the backlash.6,7 Since then, momentum has built to rein in Whitaker, but only Congress has the authority and responsibility to hold Trump accountable. Republicans must put partisanship aside to stand up for the rule of law. Democrats must do everything in their power, including attaching protection to end-of-year, must-pass spending bills, to ensure Congress protects Mueller. Unless Congress acts right away to protect the integrity and independence of Mueller's investigation, Trump and his stooges may get away with sabotaging it. Will you call now? Click the link below to get started: https://act.credoaction.com/call/Protect_Mueller_House_calls?t=7&akid=30642%2E3130208%2ERiEuJz Kaili Lambe, CREDO Action Click below for a sample script and the number to call: References: Lorelei Laird, "Was Trump's appointment of acting AG Whitaker within the law?" ABA Journal, Nov. 12, 2018. Kevin Breuninger, "Trump's new Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who has criticized the Mueller probe, will now oversee it," CNBC, Nov. 7, 2018. Nicole Lafond, "Dems May Tack Mueller Protection Onto Must-Pass Year-End Spending Bill," Talking Points Memo, Nov. 9, 2018. Burgess Everett, "Some in GOP clamor to protect Mueller," POLITICO, Nov. 9, 2018. Laird, "Was Trump's appointment of acting AG Whitaker within the law?" Jen Kirby, "'Protect Mueller' protests pop up across the country," Vox, Nov. 9, 2018. Kaitlan Collins and Betsy Klein, "Whitaker backlash prompts concern at the White House," CNN, Nov. 8, 2018.