Hundreds rallied at the White House yesterday to protest President Trump’s stunning decision to fire FBI Director James Comey and call for an independent prosecutor to lead the Russia investigation. PFAW’s Rio Tazewell joined leaders from numerous partner organizations in addressing the crowd, pointing out the deeply disturbing pattern of President Trump firing people tasked with investigating his administration.
.@RioTazewell: When it comes to #TrumpRussia, there's been a disturbing pattern: people who investigate him keep getting fired. #ComeyFiring pic.twitter.com/B5sv8A1q0j
— PFAW (@peoplefor) May 10, 2017
.@TomPerez: "We have a strong message for Republicans in Congress. Wake up and smell the cover-up." #ComeyFiring pic.twitter.com/niH2zoGdNR
— PFAW (@peoplefor) May 10, 2017
Comey’s dismissal as FBI director came within days of his requesting an increase in resources for the ongoing investigation regarding Trump’s team and Russia. This fits a profoundly troubling pattern—that looks remarkably like a cover-up—of the Trump administration impeding progress on the investigation of whether Trump campaign officials colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election.
It is essential that there be an independent investigation into this issue, because our democracy can’t function without the people’s confidence in the integrity of our system. We have to be able to trust that an investigation is real, that it’s independent, and that the people carrying it out aren’t just going to get sacked by a president who flagrantly abuses his power.