{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-after-dana-boentes-forced-resignation-sen-coons-requests-judiciary-hearing-on-presidential-interference-with-doj-demands-answers-from-ag-sessions-rosenstein", "ICYMI: After Dana Boente’s forced resignation, Sen. Coons requests Judiciary hearing on presidential interference with DOJ, demands answers from AG Sessions, Rosenstein", "2017-11-27", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Christopher Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.27.17\n\t\t\t ICYMI: After Dana Boente\u2019s forced resignation, Sen. Coons requests Judiciary hearing on presidential interference with DOJ, demands answers from AG Sessions, Rosenstein \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 In case you missed it, on Wednesday, after Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to provide an explanation for the forced resignation of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana Boente, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, requested a Judiciary Committee hearing on potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys\u2019 offices and once again demanded answers from Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein.\r\nSenator Coons sent a letter to Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein on November 7, 2017 and requested an answer no later than November 21, 2017. However, Senator Coons did not receive a response from the Department of Justice. Last Wednesday,\u00a0Senator Coons sent two additional letters, one\u00a0renewing his request to the Justice\u00a0Department for answers and a second\u00a0asking the Judiciary Committee for a hearing.\u00a0\r\nThe text of the letters can be found below:\u00a0\r\nNovember 22, 2017\r\nThe Honorable Charles E. Grassley\r\nChairman\r\nCommittee on the Judiciary\r\nUnited States Senate\r\n224 Dirksen Senate Office Building\r\nWashington, DC 20510\r\nDear Chairman Grassley:\r\nI am writing to request that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a hearing to examine potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys\u2019 offices.\u00a0 My request is based on a series of events that leave me concerned that President Trump does not respect the important boundaries between politics and the prosecutorial decisions of U.S. Attorneys within the Department of Justice.\r\nRecently, I sought additional information from the Department of Justice regarding the resignation of U.S. Attorney and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division Dana Boente, but I have not received a response.\u00a0 Mr. Boente has had an impressive career as a federal prosecutor.\u00a0 President Trump\u2019s reported demand for his resignation, the sudden nature of its timing, its proximity to the indictments issued by Special Counsel Mueller, and reported connections between the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the investigations of Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, leave me concerned that this resignation was not business as usual.\r\nMr. Boente\u2019s resignation is merely the latest in a series of events that have left me concerned that the President does not comply with norms honoring the independence of the Department of Justice, which is vital to our democratic system of government.\u00a0 From the prior dismissal of 45 U.S. Attorneys without any successors in place, to President Trump\u2019s interviews with U.S. Attorney candidates in jurisdictions with oversight of his and his family\u2019s businesses, to the President\u2019s attempts to cultivate a loyalty relationship with former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara before firing him, I cannot take on faith that this dismissal was normal or justified.\u00a0\r\nI recognize that U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President, and it is customary to request the resignations of U.S. Attorneys appointed by previous presidents.\u00a0 However, I believe this pattern of events warrants the scrupulous oversight of the Senate Judiciary Committee.\u00a0 I\r\nrespectfully request that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a hearing to examine potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys\u2019 offices.\r\nSincerely,\r\nChristopher A. Coons \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nNovember 22, 2017\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Jeff Sessions\r\nAttorney General of the United States\r\nU.S. Department of Justice\r\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\r\nWashington, DC 20530\r\nThe Honorable Rod Rosenstein\r\nDeputy Attorney General of the United States\r\nU.S. Department of Justice\r\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\r\nWashington, DC 20530\r\nDear Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein:\r\nI am writing, once again, to express my concern regarding reports that U.S. Attorney and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division, Dana Boente, wanted to remain in his position as a federal prosecutor but was forced to resign by President Trump.\u00a0 My November 7, 2017 letter requesting additional information about this matter has gone unanswered.\r\nAttorney General Sessions, as a former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, you understand how important it is for the Department of Justice to respond to congressional inquiries in a timely fashion.\u00a0 In fact, just last month, during your appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you emphasized your efforts to prioritize responding to all congressional inquiries.\u00a0\r\nI respectfully reiterate my request for information about why Mr. Boente, who was initially asked to continue serving in his important role, was suddenly forced to resign.\u00a0 Please provide the reason that the President asked for Mr. Boente\u2019s resignation and when that request was made as soon as possible.\u00a0\r\nSincerely,\r\nChristopher A. Coons \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-after-dana-boentes-forced-resignation-sen-coons-requests-judiciary-hearing-on-presidential-interference-with-doj-demands-answers-from-ag-sessions-rosenstein"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.592325046658516, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}