Protection sought

Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall want protection for the special counsel

Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat who sits on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said Monday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of collusion between the Russians and President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign should be “protected.”

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., also called for Congress to take “steps” to protect Mueller.

The New Mexico Democrats’ statements came on the heels of today’s indictments of former Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, and news of a guilty plea by former Trump adviser George Papadopoulos for making false statements to the FBI.

There has long been speculation that Trump could fire Mueller before his inquiry is complete. At a briefing today, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said there are no current plans to dismiss the former FBI director from his investigation.

“President Trump’s campaign chairman and a top adviser have been indicted for conspiracy against the United States, and another senior adviser has pled guilty to false statements to the FBI about coordinating with Russians during the Trump campaign,” Heinrich said. “That’s the sobering truth that has everyone deeply concerned.

“The Special Counsel’s investigation needs to be protected — any interference is an obstruction of justice. This isn’t a campaign anymore where President Trump can just complain away his problems. The facts matter, and our democracy demands a justice system without obstruction.”

As a member of the Senate intelligence committee, Heinrich has been deeply involved in the congressional investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign.

“Any attempt to undermine this investigation would amount to obstruction of justice and sabotaging the rule of law,” Udall said Monday. “Congress should take any and all necessary steps on a bipartisan basis to protect the special counsel from being removed for anything other than just cause.”