[ad_1]
Protests in New York, Washington, Chicago, Chicago and other parts of the country erupted on Thursday night as the Americans called on their leaders to protect Special Advocate Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia as part of a a deep restructuring of the Department of Justice.
The protests follow the dismissal of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General Wednesday by President Donald Trump and the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney General. Trump also instructed Whitaker to oversee the special advocate's investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, thus eliminating Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein from the US. ;investigation.
This decision puts the investigation in jeopardy because Whitaker has already expressed deeply critical opinions about it and could seek to end it.
"We are actually facing a countdown," said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) During a protest in Chicago on Thursday.
A network of activists called No One is above the law has created a website on which the country's organizers could list their protests. Thursday night, hundreds of cities in the United States, Canada and even Europe have registered demonstrations.
Trump "crossed a red line" by appointing Whitaker to oversee the Mueller probe, the group wrote on his website. "We are mobilizing immediately to demand accountability because Trump is not above the law."
The protests began Thursday night when the media began recasting an interview given in 2017 by Whitaker in "The David Webb Show," in which he claimed that a US president had the power to terminate any investigation without hindering justice.
In the interview, reported for the first time by Mother Jones, Whitaker cited reports that Trump had asked former FBI director James Comey to close an investigation into the former advisor. on national security, Michael Flynn. Whitaker, then head of a non-profit conservative group, argued that there was no justification for obstructing justice, regardless of Trump's motives, because the executive power of the president allowed him to make such appeals.
In California, hundreds of people gathered in front of the White House to protest against Whitaker's appointment and to defend the Mueller probe. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called the appointment "unconstitutional" by addressing the crowd.
Paul Blumenthal contributed to this report.
This is a story in development. Please check again for updates.
[ad_2]
Source link
