WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday joined Hardball with Chris Matthews to discuss his letter to Attorney General Sessions on the forced resignation of U.S. Attorney Dana Boente.
“I’ll remind you that when the former FBI Director James Comey was fired initially there were offered reasons that had to do with his handling of Hillary Clinton's e-mail investigation. Then President Trump himself went on national television and said it had to do with the Russia thing,” said Senator Coons. “The reason I sent a letter questioning the timing and the reasons behind the resignation of Dana Boente was because of this now-increasing pattern of behavior by the president of trying to interfere in this ongoing investigation. It's possible that this is entirely without reason for alarm, but I think the circumstances around the departure of Dana Boente raise legitimate questions.”
Full video and audio available here.
Senator Coons on Dana Boente: What concerns me, Chris, as I mentioned in the letter that I just sent to Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein is a whole series of things surrounding the abrupt firing of Dana Boente, a popular, successful career federal law enforcement official, Eastern District of Virginia, a U.S. Attorney. According to public reports, he had a grand jury that had issued subpoenas against both Paul Manafort and former National Security Adviser Flynn, and the timing, the proximity to when there were indictments handed down and the fact that it was directed at just him rather than others having been let go left me with a whole series of questions. I expect to get answers out of the attorney general or the deputy attorney general, and if I don't get a response, I will go to the committee chair and press for a response on behalf of the committee.
Senator Coons on whether this is part of President Trump’s reach for more power: That's my concern. As the investigation has gotten closer and closer to the senior levels of the Trump campaign, the Trump administration, or even members of the Trump family, I am concerned that President Trump will act in even more irrational ways that may undermine the rule of law. That's why I have worked with Republican Senator Thom Tillis to introduce a bill that would strengthen protections for Special Counsel Robert Mueller. I think that Senator Tillis wants to strengthen the independence of the Department of Justice. I am concerned about an abrupt action by the president given ways that this investigation is closing in on his inner circle.
More on Boente: I’ll remind you that when the former FBI Director James Comey was fired initially there were offered reasons that had to do with his handling of Hillary Clinton's e-mail investigation. Then President Trump himself went on national television and said it had to do with the Russia thing. The reason I sent a letter questioning the timing and the reasons behind the resignation of Dana Boente was because of this now-increasing pattern of behavior by the president of trying to interfere in this ongoing investigation. It's possible that this is entirely without reason for alarm, but I think the circumstances around the departure of Dana Boente raise legitimate questions.
More on whether President Trump is testing his authority: I am concerned about that. Chris, let's go back to a point you made quickly in passing that's worth focusing on for a moment. If there were to be a situation where the president orders, let's say Rod Rosenstein to fire Robert Mueller, he may then resign. The leadership of the department then passes to the number three, and if she declines to do so, it passes to number four. Dana Boente was number four in the Department of Justice. This is since the attorney general is recused in all matters relating to the Mueller investigation. I do think, by insisting on his own choice, President Trump is signaling that he is asserting his authority over the Department of Justice. I am equally troubled by reports that the president has personally interviewed candidates for U.S. Attorney positions in several key jurisdictions. That's inappropriate. Attorney General Sessions testified to our Judiciary Committee in the Senate that that was inappropriate. I think we have got lots of signals here that our president doesn't understand the appropriate boundaries.
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