releases: https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BB97636D-1403-4EC9-9E5F-6BDC9CAC58BB
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BB97636D-1403-4EC9-9E5F-6BDC9CAC58BB | VIDEO: Flake, Coons, Booker Continue Bipartisan Effort to Protect Special Counsel | 2018-12-19 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Republican | House | AZ | Jeff Flake | F000444 | www.flake.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today spoke on the Senate floor with Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in their third attempt to secure immediate passage of S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in April by a bipartisan vote of 14-7, would protect the integrity of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. The bill was blocked by an objection from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): I know that some of my Republican colleagues have sincere objections to S. 2644. Some of them believe that a president must be able to fire anyone within the executive branch, since he is the head of it. I understand the constitutional arguments and know that some of my colleagues hold them in all sincerity. I would respond that if this bill becomes law, the president still has a key role in overseeing the process, and there is accountability to him, as the U.S. Constitution requires there must be. Under this act, the attorney general would still oversee the investigation and be able to remove the special counsel for good cause. This is not a witch hunt. We are seeking truth. It is clear we need to put protections in place and send the right signal to the president: nobody is above the law. The truth must be told, whatever it is. Video of Flake's remarks can be viewed here. A complete transcript of Flake's prepared remarks can be viewed below. *** Mr. President, I rise today for a third time to defend the integrity of our political process by defending the ongoing investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The continuity of this investigation is crucial to upholding public trust in our institutions of government, due both to the substance of the investigationthe extent to which a foreign government was able to interfere in our political processAND the principle that no person, however high the rank, is above the law. This investigation has produced results, including the indictment of more than 12 Russian nationals for interference in the 2016 election. We need to protect the independence of the special counsel and allow this critical investigation, and any like it in the future, to run their course. S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, was approved on a bipartisan basis in April by the Senate Judiciary Committee, by a margin of two to one. It has awaited a vote on the floor ever since. In a moment I will once again attempt to secure immediate passage of this important legislation. I know that some of my Republican colleagues have sincere objections to S. 2644. Some of them believe that a president must be able to fire anyone within the Executive Branch, since he is the head of it. I understand the constitutional arguments and know that some of my colleagues hold them in all sincerity. I would respond that if this bill becomes law the president still has a key role in overseeing the process, and there is accountability to him, as the Constitution requires there must be. Under this act, the attorney general would still oversee the investigation and be able to remove the special counsel for good cause. So the special counsel would not be fully insulated from presidential control. The attorney general, who oversees the special counsel, would still answer to the president. This legislation simply adds one layer of protection for the special counsel and makes his removal reviewable to make sure it is for a sufficient cause. It maintains a significant degree of presidential control while protecting special counsel investigations from being terminated by a president who is starting to feel the heat because of a personal interest in the outcome. This bipartisan request today is timely and necessary. Just last month, right after the midterm elections were over, President Trump forced his attorney general to resign after many public complaints from the president that he should not have recused himself from the investigation, even though he was a key player in the 2016 campaign. It is clear we need to put protections in place and send the right signal to the president. Nobody is above the law. The truth must be told, whatever it is. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |