[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5511-S5512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          RUSSIA INVESTIGATION

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I wish to discuss the importance of 
the Justice Department's independent investigation into Russia's 
interference in the 2016 Presidential election.
  The interference with our election process by a hostile government 
was an attack on our democracy and a threat to our national security, 
carried out by Russian operatives at the direction of Vladimir Putin 
himself. As the intelligence community's unclassified report concluded, 
``We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence 
campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election. Russia's 
goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, 
denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential 
presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government 
developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump.''
  Since Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller 
as special counsel to investigate Russia's attack, 32 indictments have 
been returned in connection with the investigation, including 
indictments against Russian individuals and companies, as well as 
former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and deputy campaign manager 
Rick Gates, who were charged with ``conspiracy against the United 
States.'' Mr. Mueller has also secured guilty pleas from other campaign 
advisers, including George Papadopoulos and Michael Flynn.
  Despite this ample evidence of wrongdoing, the President has 
attempted to impede the Russia probe every step of the way, falsely 
branding it a ``witch hunt.'' So far, the Mueller investigation has 
continued to produce results, despite these attacks. We must be clear 
that any attempt to remove special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy 
Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would take our Nation into uncharted 
territory. I am disturbed that, last week, a group of the President's 
allies in the House of Representatives filed unwarranted articles of 
impeachment against Mr. Rosenstein, who has worked to uphold the rule 
of law and ensure that the independent Russia investigation can 
continue.
  Both Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Mueller have admirable records of public 
service. Mr. Mueller, whose qualifications, experience, and character I 
have previously detailed on the floor, was a decorated hero of the 
Vietnam war, a U.S. Attorney, and a widely respected director of the 
FBI. There is no one better equipped to lead the Russia probe.
  Mr. Rosenstein, like Mr. Mueller, also has a long and distinguished 
career in public service. A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Rosenstein 
graduated from the Wharton School and Harvard Law School, after which 
he clerked for Judge Douglas Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for 
the District of Columbia Circuit.
  He initially joined the Department of Justice nearly 30 years ago 
through the Attorney General's Honors Program. He started as a trial 
attorney with the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, 
prosecuting public corruption cases. Mr. Rosenstein rose through the 
ranks, serving as counsel to the Deputy Attorney General; special 
assistant to the Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division; 
associate independent counsel in the Office of the Independent Counsel; 
and assistant U.S. attorney in Maryland. He was recognized for his work 
at the Department of Justice with a 1993 ``Commendation Award'' from 
the Criminal Division, a 1994 ``Outstanding Contribution to Justice'' 
award from the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, and a 1997 
``Appreciation Award'' from the Criminal Division's Public Integrity 
Section.
  In 2001, he became Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for 
the Tax Division, where he supervised the criminal sections, 
coordinated tax enforcement activities, and oversaw civil litigation. 
Then, in 2005, he returned to the Maryland U.S. attorney's office, this 
time as the top Federal prosecutor. He served as U.S. Attorney for over 
a decade, until he was nominated to become Deputy Attorney General in 
2017. His nomination to this critically important post, at a critically 
important time for our Nation, was approved overwhelmingly by this 
body, by a vote of 94 to 6.
  Mr. Rosenstein has a wealth of experience at the Department of 
Justice and has served our country and the American public with honor 
and distinction since he entered the legal profession. During his many 
years at the

[[Page S5512]]

Department of Justice, he has shown his commitment to the rule of law 
and the legal process.
  At no time could such commitment be more vital. Our rule of law is 
under siege from multiple fronts, including from members of this 
administration and the President himself.
  Rod Rosenstein and Robert Mueller have so far been able to oversee an 
independent investigation, but the threat of interference still 
remains. Both of these respected public servants have been the target 
of vicious and unfounded partisan attacks with no purpose but to 
discredit and delegitimize the Russia investigation. These attacks are 
not only shameful; they are undemocratic.
  We cannot successfully counter foreign threats to our democracy 
without holding up our own institutions from within. A fundamental 
principle of our democracy--equal justice under law--has been tested by 
this President and his advisers since he entered the White House. We, 
too, are being tested. As Members of Congress, will we step up as a 
coequal branch of government and ensure that there are consequences 
when our principles are breached? As Americans, will we hold our public 
officials accountable when they work to undermine the democratic values 
that define us as a nation?
  That is why I call on Leader McConnell to bring the bipartisan 
Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act to the floor for a vote. 
It is why I want to emphasize that any interference with this 
investigation, whether it is with Mr. Mueller, Mr. Rosenstein, FBI 
Director Wray, or any other official at the Department of Justice, is a 
line in the sand that must not be crossed. No one--even and especially 
the President of the United States--is above the law.

                          ____________________