Bill to Protect Robert Mueller Blocked in Senate

Washington: The US Senate on Wednesday blocked an expedited vote on legislation intended to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who’s leading the Russia investigation, from being fired. Republican Senator Jeff Flake, along with two Democratic senators, tried to get a unanimous consent in the upper chamber of Congress to schedule the legislation for a vote, citing escalated attacks from President Donald Trump against the wide-ranging inquiry. “With the President tweeting on a regular basis, a daily basis, that the special counsel is conflicted, that he is leading so-called 12 angry Democrats and demeaning and ridiculing him in every way, to be so sanguine about the chances of him being fired is folly for us,” Flake said.

Republican Senator Mike Lee objected to the request, saying the bill, known as the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, was unconstitutional. If such as bill were passed it would “fundamentally undermine the principle of separation of powers” and create a “de facto fourth branch of government”, Lee said. This was the second time the attempt to get a vote on the legislation failed. (IANS)