Dems demand special prosecutor

Senators can delay business to get way

Senators ramp up pressure for independent investigator,

Democrats WASHINGTON ramped up pressure on Republicans to join them in calling for an independent investigator to take over the FBI’s probe of possible collusion between President Trump’s campaign and the Russian government.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York and other Democratic senators said they will wait for a special prosecutor to be appointed before they vote on a nominee to replace former FBI director James Comey, whom President Trump fired last week.

“A special counsel must be appointed before we consider a new nominee for FBI director, and that nominee needs to be closely scrutinized by the Senate,” Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said in a Senate floor speech. “This person will be responsible for restoring Americans’ confidence in the FBI and ensuring that he or she does not pledge loyalty to the president but pledges loyalty to the Constitution.”

In the House, Democrats will start Wednesday to try to force a vote on legislation that would create an independent commission to take over the FBI’s probe.

“What do the Russians have on President Trump financially, politically and personally that he and Republicans in Congress want to hide?” House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi wrote in a letter Monday to colleagues.

As the minority party in both chambers, Democrats probably don’t have the votes to push legislation for an independent commission. But Senate Democrats can use procedural delay tactics that would slow Senate business or effectively shut it down.

“Their ability to apply the brakes to the president’s legislative program is a power that they still possess,” said Ross Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University. “It doesn’t mean they can defeat anything, but they can make the process much slower and more agonizing. And that’s the type of thing that can get under President Trump’s skin.”