If Mueller fired, Pittsburgh police prepared for protests
President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that he is in no rush to fire either special counsel Robert Mueller or Mueller’s boss, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. But that hasn’t stopped thousands of people across the country from planning protests in the event that the president does choose to give Mueller and Rosenstein the boot from the Russian investigation.
One city’s police agency is already preparing for the worst.
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has ordered its plainclothes detectives to bring full uniform and riot gear to work “until further notice.”
“We have received information of a potential large scale protest in the Central Business District,” read an internal email from Victor Joseph, commander of major crimes, according to a copy obtained by a WTAE reporter and confirmed by Pittsburgh’s mayor. The email was sent to plainclothes detectives, according to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.
“There is a belief that President Trump will soon move to fire Special Prosecutor Mueller,” Joseph’s email continued. “This would result in a large protest within 24 hours of the firing. The protest would be semi-spontaneous and more than likely happen on short notice.”
“We may be needed to assist in the event that there is a large scale protest,” Joseph added in the email.
The memo, which circulated on Twitter, quickly raised questions about what may have spurred the agency’s preparations.
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich clarified in a statement that although authorities received information about potential events, “we have not assessed the credibility of the potential for disturbances, and we do not have any knowledge of the President’s decision-making process.”
“The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police receives information daily that we evaluate and prepare for if the event should occur,” Hissrich said. “Events can include anything from extreme weather to potential demonstrations. Often the events we prepare for do not occur. However, through an abundance of caution, we attempt to adequately prepare for an appropriate response.”
Indeed, plans are in the works for potentially large protests if Trump does fire Mueller. Thousands of people in cities across the country have signed up to participate in a series of “emergency” protests called “Nobody is Above the Law.”