Toomey: Wrap up Trump probe
Pa. senator urges prompt completion of Mueller investigation.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey on Thursday offered advice for how the acting attorney general should handle special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia:
“Have a discussion about getting this on the schedule, and let’s get this wrapped up, that would be my preference,” Toomey told reporters at an unrelated event in Emmaus.
The Pennsylvania lawmaker answered questions about changes atop the Justice Department a day after Jeff Sessions resigned as attorney general at the president’s request. Sessions was replaced by his chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, who has been openly critical of Mueller’s investigation.
Toomey said he had no reason
to think the Mueller probe would be disrupted. Nor does he think Congress needs to take steps to protect it, as some lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, would prefer. He said he thinks it’s very likely the investigation is going to reach its conclusion.
“The president could have done anything he wanted for many, many months now, and he’s chosen not to,” Toomey said. “I think the president understands that it’s best for Bob Mueller to finish his investigation.” It would be a “very bad idea” for the president to disrupt the Mueller investigation, Toomey added.
Two senators — Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona and Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware — announced Thursday afternoon that they will try to force a vote next week on legislation intended to protect Mueller. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill in April that would allow a special counsel who was fired to challenge that action in court.
Casey tweeted Wednesday after news of Sessions’ departure that Congress should take action to protect Mueller’s investigation from interference.
“Pressuring and forcing Attorney General Sessions to resign is an unacceptable effort to interfere with the chain of command in the Russia investigation,” Casey said.
Toomey spoke at the Emmaus Public Library on Thursday during the opening of a new $1.3 million children’s wing, and met with reporters afterward. Whitaker, he said, has not sought his advice.
Sessions had recused himself from oversight of the Russia investigation shortly after he arrived at the Justice Department. His replacement now faces questions about whether he will seek to hinder or shut down that investigation.
In a tweet Wednesday, shortly after Sessions’ dismissal was announced, Toomey praised Sessions — who previously was one of his GOP Senate colleagues — and said he wants to see Trump nominate “a new Attorney General who is equally committed to the rule of law.”
On Thursday, Toomey said he knew Sessions to be “a very good man,” but that the attorney general has to have the full confidence of the president.
“It’s clear that their relationship had deteriorated, and so it was probably time for this change to occur,” Toomey said.
Toomey has previously expressed support for Mueller, saying after his appointment in May 2017 that the special prosecutor will execute his responsibilities “with integrity and professionalism.”
Protestors who gathered outside Toomey’s office Thursday evening wished legislators would take a stronger stance to protect the investigation.
“I’d like them to protect the Mueller investigation. I’d like to know the truth,” said Pat Noga, an Emmaus resident.
She was among more than 100 people who held signs as part of a “Nobody is Above the Law” protest outside Toomey’s Allentown-area office. The rally was one of many across the country in reaction to Trump’s appointing Whitaker.
“I think it seems wildly inappropriate to most of us that the president would appoint someone who has such a strong opinion on an investigation on him,” said Mindie Riley, a Bethlehem resident who helped organize the rally.