[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 129 (Monday, July 31, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4610-S4611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Russia Investigation

  Finally, Madam President, a word on the investigation conducted by 
Special Counsel Mueller.
  Since the beginning of the investigation of Russia's meddling into 
our elections both here in Congress and in the executive branch, the 
heavy hand of the administration has never been far away. We know that 
the administration solicited the help of the chairman of the House 
Intelligence Committee to beat back reports in the press about Russia's 
interference in our election, and that was after 17 intelligence 
agencies said that it happened. The President fired FBI Director Jim 
Comey and admitted on national television that he was thinking about 
``this Russia thing'' when he did it. Then, after Special Counsel 
Mueller was appointed to lead the investigation, allies of the 
administration went on television to defame his character, to sully his 
reputation--a shameful ploy to degrade a man with

[[Page S4611]]

one of the most sterling records of nonpartisan public service that a 
man can have in this country.
  On Twitter, the President routinely berates and humiliates his former 
friend--maybe he still is a friend; who knows--his Attorney General, 
his great ally in his campaign. Jeff Sessions was one of President 
Trump's earliest friends, one of his first supporters in Congress. Not 
only does that get to character--I cannot imagine any American likes 
the way Senator Sessions was treated, whether you agree with him or 
disagree with him--but it also raises questions about whether the 
President wants the Attorney General to resign so that he can appoint a 
new Attorney General who is willing to fire Special Counsel Mueller.
  If such a scenario were to pass, we would have a constitutional 
crisis on our hands. The Senate should remove even the possibility of 
its coming about. So, in the tradition of the Senate, I expect that we 
will hold pro forma sessions throughout the upcoming recess to prevent 
a recess appointment from being made.
  The fact that President Trump continues to meddle with the Department 
of Justice and impede the Russia investigation gets to a larger 
question: If President Trump has nothing to hide, nothing to fear, why 
not let Special Counsel Mueller do his job, follow the facts, and 
finally get to the bottom of the matter?
  On a matter as important as foreign interference in our elections, 
the American people deserve a thorough and impartial investigation into 
the facts. President Trump should come nowhere near it.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NELSON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.