If Trump Tried to Fire Mueller, Congress Must Hold Him Accountable, DeGette Says

Denver – In response to reports that President Donald J. Trump sought to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller last June shortly after he was appointed to head the FBI's investigation into contacts between Russia and the Trump campaign and White House, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), Chief Deputy Whip, said Congress must get to the bottom of the matter rather than ignoring it, as the majority has done in other cases involving the Trump Administration's trampling of long-held democratic norms.

"During his campaign and the past year, this president has undermined institutions of American democracy that for centuries have helped make our country an example of hope for people living under authoritarianism around the world. Whether deliberate or not, through his rhetoric and policies, he has undercut the media, our judiciary, long-held values including diversity and equality, and national security bastions such as the State Department and the intelligence community. Sadly, few of my Republican colleagues have publicly called him out on these acts, though they have shared their views privately. If the multiple independent reports of his intention to fire Special Counsel Mueller are accurate, this is a step that no one in Congress should ignore, and all must be invested in holding him accountable."

DeGette hailed the appointment of Mueller as a necessary step to determine whether criminal acts had been committed, and she follows with interest the twists and turns of the ongoing congressional investigations, some of which have been stymied by partisan squabbling. She remains strongly in support of appointing an independent commission that can examine the issue and make recommendations to prevent further interference.