Hirono Statement on Bipartisan Legislation to Protect the Special Counsel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, issued the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved bipartisan legislation to protect the Special Counsel on a 14-7 vote.

 “These are not normal times.

“My Republican colleagues continue to deny that the President is looking for a way to fire the Special Counsel.

“And yet today in an interview with Fox News, the President all but said that’s exactly what he would like to do.

“He criticized the investigation into Russian interference in our election as ‘a witch hunt with people in the Justice Department that shouldn’t be there’ and talked about ‘our Justice Department, which I try to stay away from, but pretty soon I won’t.

“President Trump’s statements make plain that he is thinking of firing Mueller, Rosenstein, and Sessions. No one can have any doubt that he would do it and let the chips fall where they may. 

“The President’s statements demonstrate his continuing belief that the Department of Justice is there to serve him, not the American people. He is wrong. 

“The bipartisan bill we reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today will protect the Special Counsel now and in the future, and upholds the rule of law. 

“Majority Leader McConnell has unilaterally announced that he will not bring a Special Counsel protection bill to the floor. I call on him not to stand in the way of this bipartisan legislation and allow a vote as soon as possible.”

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