Friday, April 13, 2018

ACTION: PROTECT RULE OF LAW: PREVENT TRUMP’S INTERFERENCE WITH RUSSIAN INVESTIGATION

From Indivisible Oregon...

**CALL TO ACTION**
Friday, April 13, 2018
————————————————————————————
PROTECT RULE OF LAW: PREVENT TRUMP’S INTERFERENCE WITH RUSSIAN INVESTIGATION
————————————————————————————
#ProtectMueller
#TrumpRussia
#Resist

By repeatedly threatening the Justice Department, Deputy Attorney-General Rosenstein, and Special Counsel Mueller, Trump has taken our nation to the brink of a constitutional crisis. Incensed by an unrelated FBI subpoena for his private attorney’s records earlier this week, he’s again floating the possibility of firing Rosenstein and shutting down Mueller’s legitimate investigation into Russia’s attacks against our democracy.

Despite continued opposition from GOP leadership, two bipartisan bills languishing in the Senate were combined into the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, which will be heard by Judiciary Committee on April 19, with a vote the following week:
• codifies existing DOJ requirements that only Senate-confirmed DOJ official can remove special counsel with provision of written reasons demonstrating misconduct or good cause
• provides expedited judicial review within 10 days of firing; if it’s determined that there was not good cause, the special counsel will be reinstated
• preserves staffing/documents/materials of investigation while matter is pending

Congress must act immediately to preserve the rule of law, prevent a constitutional crisis, and make clear shackling/shutting down Mueller’s investigation would be massive abuse of power and obstruction of justice—positions with wide bipartisan support. Without firm Congressional pushback, Americans will have no choice but to take to the streets.
————————————————————————————
**ACTION 1: CALL OUR SENATORS AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through.)

SAMPLE SCRIPT (for Wyden and Merkley):
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned about Trump’s threats to fire Deputy Attorney-General Rosenstein and shut down or impede Robert Mueller’s investigation. The Senate must move swiftly to protect the integrity of Mueller’s investigation. I am asking the Senator to push for (1) immediate passage of the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act and (2) a joint resolution of Congress censoring President Trump for trying to insulate himself and his inner circle from the rule of law by seeking to shut the Mueller probe down. Thank you.”

SAMPLE SCRIPT (for Representative):
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned about Trump’s threats to fire Deputy Attorney-General Rosenstein and shut down or impede Robert Mueller’s investigation. Congress must move swiftly to protect the integrity of Mueller’s investigation. I am asking the Representative to push for (1) immediate passage of the House version of the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, once it gets through the Senate, and (2) a joint resolution of Congress censoring President Trump for trying to insulate himself and his shay inner circle from the rule of law by seeking to shut the Mueller probe down. Thank you.”

————————————————————————————
**ACTION 2: SIGN UP TO ATTEND A “NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW” RALLY IF TRUMP FIRES MUELLER**

Should Trump create a constitutional crisis by firing Rod Rosenstein or Robert Mueller or otherwise impeding Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election before Congress takes steps to rein in Executive excesses, pledge to attend a "Nobody is Above the Law" rally. Our response to Trump’s power grab will determine whether Congress exercises its constitutional power/duty to rein Trump in.

You can find an event near you here: NobodyIsAboveTheLaw.org————————————————————————————

 **ACTION 3: REMEMBER THIS FOR THE MIDTERMS: ASK WHERE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES STAND ON THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION

It is the duty of Congress, as a separate co-equal branch of government, to guard against abuses of the Executive. Our elected officials need to make clear that firing Mueller or otherwise impeding his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election is an abuse of power that would result in a constitutional crisis. To date, Congress has refused to exercise this power and take meaningful steps to constrain President Trump. This midterm election, make sure your candidate spells out how he or she intends to guard against Executive overreaching and to protect the ability of the Special Counsel to conclude his investigation without interference from the White House.
————————————————————————————
**PHONE NUMBERS**

SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129

SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691

CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1]
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010

CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2]
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400

CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3]
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300

CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4]
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732,
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609

CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5]
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100,
Oregon City (503) 557-1324

** After you call, please comment below and briefly share your experience!**E