Sending Office: Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee
Sent By:
Robin.Chand@mail.house.gov
Co-sponsor H.R. 3654
Protect the Independence of the Special Counsel
January 26, 2018
Current Co-Sponsors (33): John Lewis, DeSaulnier, Kaptur, DeFazio, Walz, Wilson, McGovern, McCollum, Cohen, Doggett, Perlmutter, Barbara Lee, Bennie Thompson, Hank Johnson, Carol Shea-Porter, Ellison, Gwen Moore, Beatty, Hastings, Jayapal, Jeffries, Danny
Davis, Raskin, Takano, Cicilline, Bass, Lieu, Butterfield, Velazquez, Watson Coleman, Lowenthal, Rush, Garamendi
Dear Colleague:
I invite you to join me in as a co-sponsor of H.R. 3654, the “Special Counsel Independence Protection Act,” legislation which I introduced earlier this year to protect the integrity and independence of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation into
Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and the involvement or collusion, if any, of Trump Campaign operatives in those efforts. Companion legislation (S.1735) has been introduced in the Senate.
Recent media reports suggest that Special Counsel Mueller has subpoenaed documents and financial records from Deutsche Bank, a financial institution with longstanding ties to the Trump Organization and the Trump Family. Separately, Deutsche Bank has a history
of laundering money for Russian oligarchs. In a July 19, 2017 interview with the New York Times, the President indicated that if Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation inquired into Trump family financial dealings that would constitute a “violation” of the
Special Counsel’s mandate.
And just last week, after his former National Security Advisor pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, Mr. Trump took to Twitter, stating: “I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It
is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide.”
The President’s remarks have prompted widespread speculation on two fronts: (1) that the President committed obstruction of justice in asking former Director James Comey to drop the FBI’s investigation into Michael Flynn; and, (2) reinforces concerns that
the President may try to stop the investigation by ordering the firing of Special Counsel Mueller. These concerns are heightened in light of the recent statement by the President’s personal lawyer, who resurrected the discredited notion that a President cannot
commit the crime of obstruction of justice.
H.R. 3654, the “Special Counsel Independence Protection Act,” would insulate the Special Counsel from interference and arbitrary action of the President by requiring that a Special Counsel may be removed only upon the following conditions:
- The attorney general files an action in federal district court in Washington, D.C., and files a contemporaneous action with the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee; and
- A panel of three federal judges sitting in Washington, D.C., finds removal appropriate based on a finding of misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest or other good cause.
In light of these events, the need for the House to act expeditiously is more urgent than ever and I invite you to co-sponsor H.R. 3654. If you have questions or wish to co-sponsor, please contact or Robin Chand by telephone at (202) 225-3816 or by email
at Robin.Chand@mail.house.gov.
Very truly yours,
Sheila Jackson Lee
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
|
 e-Dear Colleague version 2.0 |
||
