Kamala Harris calls for Senate to protect Mueller probe as Rosenstein faces potential dismissal

“The Senate must pass legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller TODAY,” Harris wrote on Twitter.

The Senate must pass legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller TODAY. Republican leaders must allow it to be voted on. We can no longer afford to wait. This is a matter of preserving the rule of law.

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) September 24, 2018

“Republican leaders must allow it to be voted on. We can no longer afford to wait. This is a matter of preserving the rule of law,” she added.

{mosads}Multiple news outlets reported Monday morning that Rosenstein, who oversees Mueller’s Russia probe, was preparing for his departure as the second-ranking official within the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Axios reported Monday that Rosenstein had verbally offered his resignation to chief of staff John Kelly. The reported move came just days after The New York Times published an article saying Rosenstein in 2017 proposed surreptitiously recording President Trump, and that he discussed with DOJ colleagues the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

NBC News on Monday reported that Rosenstein is refusing to resign and that he intends to force Trump to fire him if the president wants him out.

Harris’s call for legislative action was echoed by other Democrats, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.).

“It is more urgent than ever that the Senate pass S.2644, the bipartisan bill to protect the independence of the Special Counsel,” Leahy said on Twitter. “If we do not defend the rule of law in these moments, we risk losing it.”

Democrats have repeatedly called for action on legislation that would protect Mueller’s probe.

In April, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said he didn’t think such legislation was “necessary.”

Noel Francisco, the solicitor general, would be in charge of overseeing Mueller’s investigation if Rosenstein resigns or is fired.