Sen. Coons: Charities, and those who rely on them, will suffer under the GOP tax bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the potentially devastating impact of the Republican tax plan on American charities.

“I have serious concerns about many provisions of the Senate Republicans’ tax plan, including those that will greatly increase the national debt, provide no-strings-attached tax cuts to corporations, and hurt middle class Americans who deserve a fairer tax code the most. But today, on Giving Tuesday, I also want to shed light on the devastating impacts that the GOP tax plan would have on charitable giving in the United States,” said Senator Coons. “The non-partisan Tax Policy Center estimates that under the Republican tax plan, we will see charitable giving in the United States fall by at least $13 billion each year. Charities, including many faith-based organizations, provide countless services to Americans in need, from helping the homeless and providing health care to supporting disadvantaged young people and strengthening our communities. It is my sincere hope that my Republican colleagues will work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan tax plan that we can all support, and one that will help, not hurt, American charities. Even in times of tight budgets, I strongly believe we have a moral obligation to put a circle of protection around our neighbors most in need.”

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ICYMI: After Dana Boente’s forced resignation, Sen. Coons requests Judiciary hearing on presidential interference with DOJ, demands answers from AG Sessions, Rosenstein

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, on Wednesday, after Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to provide an explanation for the forced resignation of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana Boente, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, requested a Judiciary Committee hearing on potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys’ offices and once again demanded answers from Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein.

Senator Coons sent a letter to Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein on November 7, 2017 and requested an answer no later than November 21, 2017. However, Senator Coons did not receive a response from the Department of Justice. Last Wednesday, Senator Coons sent two additional letters, one renewing his request to the Justice Department for answers and a second asking the Judiciary Committee for a hearing. 

The text of the letters can be found below: 

November 22, 2017

The Honorable Charles E. Grassley

Chairman

Committee on the Judiciary

United States Senate

224 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Grassley:

I am writing to request that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a hearing to examine potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys’ offices.  My request is based on a series of events that leave me concerned that President Trump does not respect the important boundaries between politics and the prosecutorial decisions of U.S. Attorneys within the Department of Justice.

Recently, I sought additional information from the Department of Justice regarding the resignation of U.S. Attorney and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division Dana Boente, but I have not received a response.  Mr. Boente has had an impressive career as a federal prosecutor.  President Trump’s reported demand for his resignation, the sudden nature of its timing, its proximity to the indictments issued by Special Counsel Mueller, and reported connections between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the investigations of Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, leave me concerned that this resignation was not business as usual.

Mr. Boente’s resignation is merely the latest in a series of events that have left me concerned that the President does not comply with norms honoring the independence of the Department of Justice, which is vital to our democratic system of government.  From the prior dismissal of 45 U.S. Attorneys without any successors in place, to President Trump’s interviews with U.S. Attorney candidates in jurisdictions with oversight of his and his family’s businesses, to the President’s attempts to cultivate a loyalty relationship with former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara before firing him, I cannot take on faith that this dismissal was normal or justified. 

I recognize that U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President, and it is customary to request the resignations of U.S. Attorneys appointed by previous presidents.  However, I believe this pattern of events warrants the scrupulous oversight of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  I

respectfully request that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a hearing to examine potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys’ offices.

Sincerely,

Christopher A. Coons         

November 22, 2017 

The Honorable Jeff Sessions

Attorney General of the United States

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20530

The Honorable Rod Rosenstein

Deputy Attorney General of the United States

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20530

Dear Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein:

I am writing, once again, to express my concern regarding reports that U.S. Attorney and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division, Dana Boente, wanted to remain in his position as a federal prosecutor but was forced to resign by President Trump.  My November 7, 2017 letter requesting additional information about this matter has gone unanswered.

Attorney General Sessions, as a former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, you understand how important it is for the Department of Justice to respond to congressional inquiries in a timely fashion.  In fact, just last month, during your appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you emphasized your efforts to prioritize responding to all congressional inquiries. 

I respectfully reiterate my request for information about why Mr. Boente, who was initially asked to continue serving in his important role, was suddenly forced to resign.  Please provide the reason that the President asked for Mr. Boente’s resignation and when that request was made as soon as possible. 

Sincerely,

Christopher A. Coons                        

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[VIDEO]: Sen. Coons, Rachel Maddow discuss Dana Boente’s forced resignation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, last night joined The Rachel Maddow Show to discuss the forced resignation of Dana Boente. On November 7, 2017, Senator Coons sent a letter to Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein demanding answers on why Boente was forced to resign. Today, Senator Coons sent two additional letters, one renewing his request to the Justice Department for answers and a second asking the Judiciary Committee for a hearing.

“The national security division has a central role in law enforcement matters that relate to actions by our adversaries or actions that implicate our intelligence community, and I think it would be easy to conclude why that might be specifically relevant to Russian attempts at interference in our last election or any counterintelligence matters that might be a part of that ongoing investigation. I also want to raise the matter that Dana Boente, the Eastern District of Virginia US Attorney is fourth in line of succession.” 

Audio and video available here.

Excerpts from the interview:

Senator Coons on Boente: Well, I’ve got real questions, but I don’t have a firm answer as to why Dana Boente was pushed. As I laid out in the letter that I sent to the Attorney General, which has gone without a response so far and as I laid out in my letter to the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee asking for a hearing, this fits within a broader troubling pattern of interference with U.S. Attorneys’ offices, and while the president does have the right to ask for US Attorneys’ resignations, he can’t do it for an improper purpose, to interfere with an ongoing investigation. And, as you pointed out in the run-up to this segment, there’s some very troubling intersections between the ongoing investigation, the announcement of indictments, and, in the case of Papadopoulos, a guilty plea, and the timing of Dana Boente’s now-revealed forced resignation. 

More on Boente: It is part of why I’m also concerned. The national security division has a central role in law enforcement matters that relate to actions by our adversaries or actions that implicate our intelligence community, and I think it would be easy to conclude why that might be specifically relevant to Russian attempts at interference in our last election or any counterintelligence matters that might be a part of that ongoing investigation. I also want to raise the matter that Dana Boente, the Eastern District of Virginia US Attorney is fourth in line of succession. So, if there would happen to be a set of circumstances where the Attorney General was recused, the Deputy Attorney General was ordered by the president to do something improper, refused to do so and resigned, Dana Boente would be the third in that line of succession. Those of us who know our Watergate history and the Saturday Night Massacre know that it’s possible that there will be a fact pattern where the president orders folks in the senior levels at headquarters at the Department of Justice to do things which they refuse to do. The first person in that line of succession outside of DOJ headquarters is the Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney.

More on Boente: Well, it’s my hope that the Senate Judiciary Committee will continue to work in a bipartisan way. It is my expectation that we’ll have a chance to continue to seek the production of both documents and witnesses in the coming weeks. There are folks who I think should be appearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee because of their incomplete or misleading previous answers, and it’s my hope that the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman will agree that these are folks that ought to be in front of us and that getting to the bottom of what’s happening with Dana Boente is an appropriate use of committee resources, and protection of the independence of the Department of Justice.            

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After Dana Boente’s forced resignation, Sen. Coons requests Judiciary hearing on presidential interference with DOJ, demands answers from AG Sessions, Rosenstein

WASHINGTON – After Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to provide an explanation for the forced resignation of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana Boente, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today requested a Judiciary Committee hearing on potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorney’s offices and once again demanded answers from Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein.

Senator Coons sent a letter to Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein on November 7, 2017 and requested an answer no later than yesterday, November 21, 2017. However, Senator Coons did not receive a response from the Department of Justice. Today, Senator Coons sent two additional letters, one renewing his request to the Justice Department for answers and a second asking the Judiciary Committee for a hearing.

The text of the letters can be found below:

November 22, 2017

The Honorable Charles E. Grassley

Chairman

Committee on the Judiciary

United States Senate

224 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Grassley: 

I am writing to request that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a hearing to examine potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys’ offices.  My request is based on a series of events that leave me concerned that President Trump does not respect the important boundaries between politics and the prosecutorial decisions of U.S. Attorneys within the Department of Justice.

Recently, I sought additional information from the Department of Justice regarding the resignation of U.S. Attorney and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division Dana Boente, but I have not received a response.  Mr. Boente has had an impressive career as a federal prosecutor.  President Trump’s reported demand for his resignation, the sudden nature of its timing, its proximity to the indictments issued by Special Counsel Mueller, and reported connections between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the investigations of Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, leave me concerned that this resignation was not business as usual.

Mr. Boente’s resignation is merely the latest in a series of events that have left me concerned that the President does not comply with norms honoring the independence of the Department of Justice, which is vital to our democratic system of government.  From the prior dismissal of 45 U.S. Attorneys without any successors in place, to President Trump’s interviews with U.S. Attorney candidates in jurisdictions with oversight of his and his family’s businesses, to the President’s attempts to cultivate a loyalty relationship with former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara before firing him, I cannot take on faith that this dismissal was normal or justified. 

I recognize that U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President, and it is customary to request the resignations of U.S. Attorneys appointed by previous presidents.  However, I believe this pattern of events warrants the scrupulous oversight of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  I

respectfully request that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a hearing to examine potential presidential interference with U.S. Attorneys’ offices. 

Sincerely,

Christopher A. Coons    

November 22, 2017 

The Honorable Jeff Sessions

Attorney General of the United States

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20530

The Honorable Rod Rosenstein

Deputy Attorney General of the United States

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20530 

Dear Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein:

I am writing, once again, to express my concern regarding reports that U.S. Attorney and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division, Dana Boente, wanted to remain in his position as a federal prosecutor but was forced to resign by President Trump.  My November 7, 2017 letter requesting additional information about this matter has gone unanswered. 

Attorney General Sessions, as a former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, you understand how important it is for the Department of Justice to respond to congressional inquiries in a timely fashion.  In fact, just last month, during your appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you emphasized your efforts to prioritize responding to all congressional inquiries. 

I respectfully reiterate my request for information about why Mr. Boente, who was initially asked to continue serving in his important role, was suddenly forced to resign.  Please provide the reason that the President asked for Mr. Boente’s resignation and when that request was made as soon as possible. 

Sincerely,

Christopher A. Coons                        

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons on the BBC: “This is an historic moment for the people of Zimbabwe…I am hopeful that there will be a peaceful transition of power”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Africa subcommittee, today joined BBC News to discuss the current situation in Zimbabwe.

“The economy is in shambles, there have been violations of human rights, and ways in which democracy has been thwarted since the 2008 election that Mugabe lost, but somehow maneuvered to be able to remain as president. I am hopeful that there will be a peaceful transition of power. Mugabe has resigned and has called for a peaceful transition, but this will be up to the people of Zimbabwe, and regional leaders from SADC and the African Union to insist on an inclusive and an open process. My hopes are that the transition will respect the rule of law and will lead to an open and inclusive election in which there will be a democratic process to choose the future leadership of Zimbabwe that can reform the economy and repair the health of the country.”

Audio and video available here. 

Excerpts from the interview:

Senator Coons on Mugabe: Well, this is an historic moment for the people of Zimbabwe. As you’ve mentioned, for 37 years, Robert Mugabe has been a president who was initially a liberator, but gradually became a dictator. The economy is in shambles, there have been violations of human rights, and ways in which democracy has been thwarted since the 2008 election that Mugabe lost, but somehow maneuvered to be able to remain as president. I am hopeful that there will be a peaceful transition of power. Mugabe has resigned and has called for a peaceful transition, but this will be up to the people of Zimbabwe, and regional leaders from SADC and the African Union to insist on an inclusive and an open process. My hopes are that the transition will respect the rule of law and will lead to an open and inclusive election in which there will be a democratic process to choose the future leadership of Zimbabwe that can reform the economy and repair the health of the country.

More on Zimbabwe: Well, the United States, as you know, has imposed fairly strong sanctions against Zimbabwe many years ago against both Robert Mugabe and some of his inner circle of advisors as well as impacting the country as a whole. The United States continues to provide significant amounts of humanitarian relief because of the famine, the drought, excuse me, throughout Zimbabwe. But, we do not provide any direct government-to-government assistance. If the new government of Zimbabwe presents itself as being more transparent and more open to reform, the United States could consider lifting some or all of those sanctions. We could be a strong partner with Zimbabwe for its future development, along with our vital ally, the United Kingdom, and others throughout Europe and the world, we could create the environment for significant improvement in Zimbabwe’s economy, as long as there is respect for human rights and a sort of transparency and democracy that has been lacking for the last 37 years.

More on Zimbabwe: My hope is that the transition will be one that will allow for more openness. It seems likely that Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as the new president and that Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, who was the winner of the ’08 election will play some role. It is my hope that these gentleman and others will view the transition as an opportunity to establish new standards for conduct, for rule of law, and for openness to engagement with the west, in particular the United States and UK.

More on Zimbabwe: Yes, I’m very concerned about the lack of an active, forward-leaning presence by the United States. I think the last American delegation to visit Zimbabwe was led by my friend, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, he and I and two other senators and a congressman, visited southern Africa in February of 2016 – we actually met with Robert Mugabe, a truly memorable, troubling long meeting, and I share your expressed concern. They think that China has a significant foothold in Zimbabwe, they trained many of the liberation struggle leaders, and they have a strong economic presence. China and the United States have a different approach to engagement in Africa. They do not advocate for democracy and free press and human rights and, instead, are much more interested in economic relationships. I think it is long past time for China to stand up for international standards in terms of how we conduct business across Africa, and for the people of countries like Zimbabwe to have a voice in the future of their nation.

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Sen. Coons joins bipartisan bill to enforce current law regarding the Background Check System for firearms purchases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dean Heller (R-NV), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), in sponsoring the Fix NICS Act to ensure federal and state authorities comply with existing law and accurately report relevant criminal history records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

“I want to commend Senator Cornyn for leading efforts to ensure the National Background Check System works,” said Senator Coons. “I also want to commend his cosponsors, including Senators Murphy and Murkowski, as well as Senators Blumenthal, Hatch, and Feinstein. We must do all we can to ensure that individuals who are prohibited don’t obtain firearms. I look forward to supporting the Fix NICS Act along with other efforts to strengthen existing laws and keep our communities safe.”

Background on the Fix NICS Act

·       Requires federal agencies and states to produce NICS implementation plans focused on uploading all information to the background check system showing that a person is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms under current law—including measures to verify the accuracy of records.

·       Holds federal agencies accountable if they fail to upload relevant records to the background check system through public reporting and prohibiting bonus pay for political appointees. 

·       Rewards states who comply with their NICS implementation plans through federal grant preferences and incentives, while increasing accountability through public reporting for those who do not comply with their plans.

·       Reauthorizes and improves important law enforcement programs to help state governments share relevant criminal record information with NICS.

·       Creates a Domestic Abuse and Violence Prevention Initiative to ensure that states have adequate resources and incentives to share all relevant information with NICS showing that a felon or domestic abuser is excluded from purchasing firearms under current law.

·       Provides important technical assistance to federal agencies and states who are working to comply with NICS record-sharing requirements.

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ICYMI: Sen. Coons op-ed: “Try bipartisan tax reform. It worked for Reagan.”

 WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published an op-ed in The News Journal about his concerns with the GOP tax bill and what he believes we should do instead to pass bipartisan, revenue-neutral tax reform. 

The News Journal: Try bipartisan tax reform. It worked for Reagan.

By Chris Coons

As you may have heard in the newspaper or on TV, the conventional wisdom in Washington, DC is that bipartisan tax reform is too hard. According to the skeptics, the parties are simply too far apart to come together to make our tax system better for working Americans. 

I disagree. 

Back in 1986, the conventional wisdom was the same. Even though our tax system was broken then, too, the skeptics assured us that it couldn’t be fixed.  

But then, something unexpected happened: Republican President Ronald Reagan, Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, and members of Congress from both parties worked together to get the job done. 

Even though fixing the tax code was complicated, their approach was simple. They knew they had strong disagreements, but they held lengthy public debates, compromised on both sides of the aisle, and eventually passed a major tax reform bill that was bipartisan and did not add to our deficits and national debt. 

Now, thirty-one years later, our tax code is once again in need of a major overhaul. Our tax system is complicated and full of loopholes, our business tax laws are making us less competitive, and the middle class is overdue for a tax cut. 

Unfortunately, this time around, Republicans in Congress and the White House are taking the exact opposite approach that President Reagan and congressional leaders took the last time we passed real tax reform.

I think that’s a big mistake. 

The full column is available here.

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Sens. Coons, Flake, Booker, Isakson statement on the situation in Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Africa subcommittee, released the following statement on the current situation in Zimbabwe.

“For nearly four decades, Zimbabweans have suffered under the authoritarian rule of President Robert Mugabe, a dictator who has repressed his people and presided over the economic deterioration of his country. While a change in leadership is long overdue, we are concerned about the military’s actions. We urge the leaders of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces to ensure the protection of all citizens and a transparent return to civilian control. As the country grapples with a new political reality, Zimbabwe’s leaders must adhere to democratic processes and establish a mechanism for the peaceful transfer of power that is consistent with Zimbabwe’s Constitution and the will of its people. Finally, we urge the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to mediate a democratic process that reinforces the rule of law, promotes economic reforms, and respects the human rights of all Zimbabweans.”

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Corker, Coons Bill to Improve Accountability and Effectiveness of US Role in International Organizations Passes Committee

WASHINGTON – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today approved bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), both members of the committee, to review and improve the accountability and effectiveness of U.S. participation in international organizations. The Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2017 (S.1928) would establish an interagency task force with peer review to conduct regular evaluations of how well multilateral institutions carry out their missions and how they serve American interests and taxpayers. Cosponsors of the legislation include Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

“American taxpayers deserve to know how our involvement in these organizations benefits this country,” said Senator Corker. “Establishing a rigorous, thoughtful review process will give us a better way to evaluate the performance of these institutions. From there, we can make more informed decisions about how to prioritize scarce resources and demand better outcomes. I thank our cosponsors and the committee for supporting this good governance initiative that we believe can protect taxpayer dollars and be a useful tool for advancing U.S. interests abroad more effectively.” 

“It is in our nation’s best interest to provide transparency and to maximize the impact of what we spend overseas,” said Senator Coons. “Multilateral organizations are at the forefront of the fight to alleviate global poverty. Congress owes it to the American people to review how U.S. tax payer dollars are being spent and to make sure it’s done efficiently and effectively.  I’m pleased that our bill passed the committee, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate and House until it becomes law.”
 

Full text of the bill as approved by the committee is available here, and a one page summary is available here.

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons on Boente forced resignation: “President Trump is signaling that he is asserting his authority over the Department of Justice”

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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