[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 181 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          RUSSIA INVESTIGATION

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now, on the Russia investigation 
itself. There is this idea out there on the Republican side that the 
President doesn't intend to interfere with the Russia investigation. 
Republicans, including my friend the Republican leader, say President 
Trump has not threatened the special counsel investigation, and so 
there is no need to protect it. That is a laugh. He threatens the 
investigation almost every day. He did this morning in his tweets. To 
say that the President hasn't threatened the special counsel is not 
only logically dubious, but it is just dead wrong and untrue.
  A few weeks ago, President Trump said the investigation ``should 
end.'' This morning, again, President Trump made clear that he does not 
want the Mueller investigation to reach a fair and impartial 
conclusion. Last week, President Trump went around the traditional line 
of succession in the Justice Department--what many believe to be a 
violation of the Constitution--to install an Acting Attorney General 
whose only qualification for the job seems to be that he has publicly 
criticized the Russia probe.
  My friends--particularly my friends, again, on the Republican side--
the writing is on the wall. Let's avoid this constitutional crisis. 
Let's at least stand up for the rule of law. We should pass legislation 
now, in the lameduck, to protect the special counsel's investigation 
from the President and from his woefully unqualified henchman, Mr. 
Whitaker.
  Senators Flake and Coons tried yesterday--bipartisan--but the 
Republican leader objected. They are going to keep trying, as they 
should, and Democrats will try to add this proposal to the must-pass 
spending bill because we believe it is so important for our democracy. 
There is too much at stake to sit around and wait until the President 
crosses the line, creating the constitutional crisis we all abhor.
  But waiting until that happens would be too late. We need to act on 
legislation to protect the special counsel, to protect the rule of law, 
and to protect democracy, accountability, and the fundamental checks 
and balances that is the hallmark of our great Nation.

                          ____________________