Love I want, I came to the floor today to talk a little bit about rule of law. President trump's approach to uh what what has happened as far as the muller is investigation. The rule of law has protected our nation's democracy institutions and citizens for over 200 years. It means that no one person is above the law. No one, not even the President President trump does not say And to respect the rule of law, he acts as if the law doesn't apply to him. He believes that he can steer the wheels of Justice and, whichever direction he wants to shield himself from lawful investigation. This President is willing to risk National security to defy the judgement of the director and his team and release classified material for his own political purposes. Think about that the President of the United States just Classified a top secret document and he did it with the clear intent to undermine the investigation into Russian interference in our election. His actions should and any down about his willingness to obstruct Justice after a declassified the newness memo, President trump, said and I quote here a lot of people should be ashamed of themselves. It's a disgrace. What's happened in our country and quote this is one of the rare to Times I've agreed with President trump it is a disgrace. What's happened in our country, but not for the reasons. The President gives russia's cyber attacks and other potential operations during the 20 16 election represented a direct strike at our democracy. I cannot think of a time when our National interest has been so threatened and the President of the United States has ignored the threat not only has this press Turn the blind eye to russia's interference, but he is done. Nothing to prevent future attacks. He ignores to threat even though the director says Russia will try to interfere in our elections again and study is done. Everything he can to curry favor with improvement. He should be ashamed of himself. Unfortunately, he's demonstrated time and time again that he is incapable of shame, but he's not alone, many members of This party should be a shame for enabling the President to undermine the special counsel investigation for enabling his defamation of career public servants and for remaining silent in the face of a growing crisis. The President is made clear. It is not like special counts. Are muller and deputy attorney general roses themes, independence and commitment to the rule of law and he's have an eye on getting rid of them for quite a while we learned he consider Firing them last June and we have known for many months from the president's own admission that he fired Fbi director, James call me to stop the Russia investigation. These men have dedicated their lives to serving our country. Mr served as a federal prosecutor and Department of Justice, lawyer for much of his career and was appointed as the director and two thousand one by President Bush mister roses steam is also A career federal prosecutor and was appointed as the us attorney by President George W. Bush, the President said many times and I quote here there was no collusion. If that's true why does the President go to such great links to undermine the investigation. President's intentions are transparent and dangerous. He fails to accept that. Mr muller and Mr rosenstein swore, an oath to the constitution Because they will not pledge their loyalty to him, he's found and determined to stop the investigation into his potential, long doing. But the Republican leader has delayed bringing forward bipartisan legislation to protect. Mr muller from arbitrary dismissal and light of recent recent events. Congress must at the special Council needs protection to do his job. He shouldn't have interfere Parents from the President and his partisan supporters in the Senate appropriations bill for the Department of Justice. I included language directing the Department of Justice to abide by its current regulations for the special counsel. But it's clear to me, we must do a lot more during the watergate investigation eugene mccarthy said and I quote here this is the time for all good people, not to go to the aid of Party but to come to the aid of their country in quote, it is time for all members of Congress to come to the aid of our country and ensure that Mr mahler and his team are able to gather the facts and draw their conclusions without obstruction. It is astonishing the President trump still calls the Russian investigation a witch hunt our government 17 law enforcement and National security H, agencies all reach the conclusion that Russia actively interfere with our presidential election through hacking National Park Computers through leaking information and spreading disinformation over media and social media outlets, the president's continued refusal to address this threat is unconscionable and betrays our National interest. Mister investigation into Russian interference is justified by the evidence and it is imperative so we also have abundant evidence that the President tried to interfere with the Department of Justice and Fbi investigation presents firing of F The, I director, James call me because of quote the Russian thing is what landed him a special counsel in the first place. Why did the President want a pledge of personal loyalty from mister call me and Mr rose and stain. Why did he ask Mr call me to drop the investigation of Mr flambe. Why is the President so angry at attorney general sessions for Rick using himself from the investigation and why did the President need the attorney general to not recuse to quote, protect him the evidence of Interference with an ongoing investigation is enough reason to investigate. We all remember the President nixon's chief transcription was the cover up and, despite the constant refrain of denials from the President and his campaign that Friday and despite these denials from the president's campaign that they didn't have any connection with Russia, we know that there were many connections, former National security adviser, Michael flan pled guilty to lying to the Fbi about is December 20 second 20 16 conversation With the Russian ambassador about relieving us sanctions imposed for russia's interference campaign, foreign advisor, George popping office, pled guilty to lying to the Fbi about his contacts with people connected to the Russian government, former campaign manager Paul man afford is charged in a federal indictment with acting as a foreign agent for the progress when you crain government, the president's son, donald trump Junior, his son-in-law jared mister man afford all met with Russian operatives, together dirt on Hillary Clinton and then the President personally dictated a press statement. Miss representing the nature of the meeting. These are just a few of the connections. Mister President I'd, like to place into the record, a November 13 20 17 article from the Washington post. It chronicles many of the meetings between the trump campaign, officials and the russians during the campaign too long to go into your eye last consent to put that article in the record without objection. Thank you mister Person but neither the compelling evidence just define investigation norm. Mister credentials have stop the President is friends and Congress from attacking both representative newness nominee recuse himself from the trump collusion, investigation in the House. Intelligence Committee, but he and his colleagues on the Committee of now released a memo based on incomplete and misleading information with the president's full backing. This is despite a warning From the against the release and the Speaker will do nothing to reign in him or his Committee. Members. The president's attacks on the independence of our nation's Premier law enforcement agency mirror his attacks on our other foundational institutions. His maligned the judiciary is my line. The press. He attacks and disrespect our foundational principle, separation of powers, freedom of speech, religion and the quality I, under the law this is in addition to the presidents. Regular assault on the truth. The Washington post counted at least two thousand times where this President the part of from the truth in his first year in office, the White House and it's calling allies in Congress must stop their baseless attacks on Mr mahler and his team that they must let them do their job and find the facts we must ensure the Pendants of prosecutors so we can ensure investigation and outcomes are fair and impartial. Why is the President going to such lengths to fight this investigation. We do not know, but we do know that a foreign power Russia interfere in our last election and we do know that the President and his team have had significant business links to Russian financial interest and the president's family business Continues today, but does so while concealing his tax returns and keeping their business partner secret on top of the trump administration has become much more accommodating of Russian interest. Are these things connected in some way. We need to know and that's why the special counsel's investigation is so important now is the time for every member of Congress to put the country ahead of politics, special counsel must be able To do his job to follow the facts wherever they may lead and to draw his conclusions, Congress must pass legislation to protect the special counsel from being arbitrarily fire, not serve as the presidents lieutenants in an unprecedented assault on the rule of law. Mr President, I am not the absence of a warm local Colorado is child Center