[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 64 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SPECIAL COUNSEL LEGISLATION

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, on another topic, I have come to the 
floor several times over the past month to document the number of ways 
in which this administration has signaled a willingness--perhaps a 
desire--to interfere with Special Counsel Mueller's probe into Russian 
interference in the 2016 elections.
  Beyond troubling statements from the White House Press Secretary and 
the President's allies in the media, President Trump himself has 
publicly mused about the firing of the special counsel. So while I 
appreciate that the majority leader believes the President would be 
wrong to fire the special counsel, I believe it is a real mistake not 
to pass legislation to protect the investigation. I sincerely hope 
Leader McConnell reconsiders his refusal to entertain bringing such a 
bill to the floor. It is a bipartisan bill.
  I have talked to Members on both sides of the aisle who are worried 
about a constitutional crisis. We all know the consequence of 
Presidential interference in the Russian probe and how dire it would be 
for the rule of law, fundamental to our democracy, and the 
constitutional crisis that it would create should be avoided at all 
costs. Unfortunately, there is substantial evidence that the President 
has thought about firing the special counsel more than once in the past 
and may well do so in the future.
  The bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Graham, Coons, 
Tillis, and Booker has no real downsides to it. It would simply provide 
a legal avenue to restore the special counsel if existing DOJ 
regulations are breached and he is fired for political reasons.
  So what is the reason not to do it? Why not head off a constitutional 
crisis at the pass rather than waiting until it is too late? The rule 
of law is fundamental to the functioning of our democracy. Why even 
flirt with the prospect of a President challenging the very nature of 
our system of government?
  So I would urge my friend Leader McConnell to think twice about 
this--to think not simply about his responsibilities to his party and 
not simply about doing what the President might want, but to our 
country and our Constitution. If we think of it in those terms, I think 
it is inevitable that we would want to pass this legislation. That is 
because the rule of law is fundamental to the functioning of our 
democracy. Why even flirt with the prospect of a President challenging 
the very nature of our system of governance and rules?
  So I hope the Judiciary Committee moves forward with the bipartisan 
bill. I hope there is no attempt to water it down or to create a back 
channel for political interference in ongoing investigations. It is 
clear that several Republicans, including Chairman Grassley, Senator 
Tillis, Senator Graham, and others, see a need to pass this 
legislation. Let them prevail upon the Republican leader to reconsider 
his position.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. 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 ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________