The Progressive

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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Lisa Gilbert, Public Citizen, lgilbert@citizen.org / (202) 454-5188
Brian Stewart, MoveOn.org, press@moveon.org / (319) 936-3901
Courtney Neale, People for the American Way, media@pfaw.org / (202) 467-4999
Helen Kalla, Indivisible Project, helen@indivisibleguide.com / (706) 340-4797
Alexander McCoy, Common Defense, press@commondefensepac.org / (401) 477-9966
Edward Erikson, Free Speech for People, edward.erikson@gmail.com / (202) 420-9947
Dave Vance, Common Cause, dvance@commoncause.org / (202) 736-5712
Jessica Adair, Stand Up America, jessica@standupamerica.com / (817) 658-4080
Tanya Arditi, Center for American Progress Action Fund, tarditi@americanprogressaction.org / (202) 741-6258

Mueller Must Be Protected

Coalition Statement: Citizens Movement Building Around the Nation to Ensure No Interference With Special Counsel Mueller’s Russia-Trump Investigation

WASHINGTON

The need to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his office has never been more obvious.

The public, by a margin of more than 2-to-1, supports the Mueller investigation, as do many Republicans and Democrats in Congress. The support holds strong despite President Donald Trump and allies like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich raising questions about the impartiality of the Mueller-led investigation and attempting to characterize the special counsel's efforts as a witch hunt.

Both the House Speaker and the Senate Majority Leader have defended Mr. Mueller when the issue of his removal has come up. Speaker Paul Ryan said, "I think the best thing to do is to let Robert Mueller do his job. I think the best vindication for the president is to let this investigation go on independent and thoroughly." Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "I have a lot of confidence in Bob Mueller. I think it was a good choice." Additional Republican senators and representatives also have weighed in to support Mr. Mueller.

The Trump-Russia investigation and Mueller must be protected. Activists across the country are banding together in a campaign entitled Trump Is Not Above the Law in support of Mueller and to push back - via media work, actions in states, questions at town halls this August and more - against any effort to remove him or interfere with the special counsel investigation. This network of activists is present in more than 200 locations around the nation and is growing daily.

These Americans are already organizing in support of Mueller and the independent investigation and stand ready to take to the streets if Mueller is fired or if the special counsel office investigation is in any way undermined.

Trump must be prevented from interfering with the independent special counsel investigation, which must be allowed to play out. Public outrage must act as a check on the president's rapidly growing out-of-control behavior, as must Congress. Citizens must and will be heard, and Congress must stand up for the American people should Trump impede the special counsel's probe. Trump must not be allowed to obstruct justice and threaten the rule of law.

Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. We defend democracy, resist corporate power and work to ensure that government works for the people - not for big corporations. Founded in 1971, we now have 500,000 members and supporters throughout the country.

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