DPCC Co-Chair Jeffries: It’s Our Responsibility To Serve As A Constitutional Check and Balance

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on CNN's Situation Room to discuss President Trump's attempt to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller and how Congress must act to provide check and balance to protect the integrity of the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 Presidential election. Below are excerpts from the interview.

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"Well, I believe it's growing stronger by the day. Let's take a step back and examine the facts that have led us to this moment. You know, Donald Trump, from almost the moment that he became president of the United States, has consistently fired individuals who he feels has gotten too close to his administration and the possibility of uncovering wrongdoing.

"In January of 2017, it was Sally Yates, the acting attorney general, who went to the White House and expressed her concern that -- that Michael Flynn could be a mole who was subject to blackmail from Russia. Next thing you know, Sally Yates was fired. Then Preet Bharara, who was the U.S. attorney of --U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York, it was publicly exposed that he was investigating close allies of the Trump campaign. Next thing you know, Donald Trump fires Preet Bharara. And then of course, he fires James Comey, the FBI director, who was leading the criminal investigation into the Trump campaign. So it should come as no surprise that he had apparently given the order to fire the special prosecutor.

"Needless to say, this administration has been less than truthful in the manner in which it's communicated with the American people. We've seen instance after instance of selective amnesia from many people who are close to Donald Trump, who apparently couldn't remember instances in which they communicated with people who were close to Vladimir Putin at the same time that Russia was interfering with our election. And then facts were revealed where they had to correct the record, correct the testimony and explain themselves.

"And then we've seen other instances where they claimed that things have not happened or were not happening, and then subsequently, as is the case with the effort to fire Bob Mueller, it's publicly revealed that things that the administration said were not occurring actually were occurring. And it's very troubling. And, again, it strengthens the case that something unlawful may have occurred under the roof of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"We'll, absolutely support legislation to protect the special counsel. I think in terms of a pathway toward getting over the finish line, it will have to start in the Senate where we have seen some positive indications from Chairman Grassley of a willingness to move legislation forward. Lindsey Graham has also expressed his interest in being supportive of legislation to protect the special counsel.

"If they can get it done in the Senate, then it will place the pressure on the House of Representatives to either stand in the way of accountability and our constitutional role as a separate and co-equal branch of government, or to be responsible and just make sure that this investigation can proceed in a comprehensive, fair way. There's a cloud of illegitimacy hanging over the White House right now. The only way to clear it up is if Bob Mueller is able to conduct a full, fair and just criminal investigation."