Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Monday that it would be an “assault” on U.S. democracy is President Trump moved to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
“Firing Rod Rosenstein would be an assault on our democracy, a break the glass moment, and our own colleagues have promised that there would be a firestorm of condemnation that would hopefully persuade the president [that] he would be wrong,” Blumenthal told Hill.TV.
“My hope is that Republican colleagues rise to that challenge. Certainly, on our side, the denunciation would be loud and clear, he continued.
Blumenthal’s comments come ahead of a Thursday meeting between President Trump and Rosenstein that could determine the future of his post overseeing the federal probe into Russian election meddling.
The White House said on Monday that the two had an “extended conversation to discuss the recent news stories.”
Conflicting reports surfaced that Rosenstein was either resigning or expected to be fired as he met with White House chief of staff John Kelly.
The meeting came days after the New York Times reported Rosenstein spoke about wearing a wire to record the president as part of an effort to invoke the 25th Amendment.
Trump has frequently attacked Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia probe and has called the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller a “witch hunt.”
— Julia Manchester
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