Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen
Stephen (Steve) Ira CohenGOP advances bill demanding documents from FBI Dems rip Trump concessions, 'embarrassing' rhetoric with Kim Lawmakers spar at hearing over census citizenship question MORE (Tenn.) moved on Wednesday to force a House vote to protect the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election as uncertainty looms over whether Trump may fire Robert Mueller
Robert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE.
Cohen's petition asks for Speaker Paul Ryan
Paul Davis RyanPaul Ryan ‘will await the findings’ of Jim Jordan investigation Overnight Health Care: Trump officials want more time to reunite families | Washington braces for Supreme Court pick | Nebraska could be next state to vote on Medicaid expansion Dems call on Ryan to provide free feminine hygiene products in House bathrooms MORE (R-Wis.) to call a vote on a bill, called the Special Counsel Integrity Act, preventing the firing of Mueller without just cause.
Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen has filed a discharge petition to force a floor vote on a bill to protect Robert Mueller. pic.twitter.com/bjnemb0Qx5
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 22, 2018
Cohen, a member of the House Ethics Committee, pointed to recent indicators that Trump may again be seeking to oust Mueller, after a previous attempt was thwarted by the president's legal team.
"Recent events particularly concern me because it seems the President fears that Mueller is close to revealing findings relevant to his mandate and that ending the investigation is the only way to prevent its public release," he said in a statement Wednesday.
Cohen was one of several Democratic lawmakers who introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump
Donald John TrumpMichelle Wolf in July Fourth salute: 'God bless abortions and God bless America' Graham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Trump supporters, GOP lawmaker MORE last year.
Cohen's move to vote on the bill protecting Mueller comes after FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe
Andrew George McCabeMemos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign Memos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign Top aide to deputy attorney general plans to step down: report MORE was fired last week by Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMeet the senator on Trump's Supreme Court shortlist Trump asked Pruitt to resign in message delivered by Kelly: report Tucker Carlson: Dems are 'plotting a coup' using immigration protests MORE.
President Trump praised the decision, and John Dowd, an attorney for Trump, called for the deputy attorney general to "bring an end" to the Russia probe shortly after McCabe's firing.
Numerous lawmakers in both parties have warned Trump and his administration not to fire the special counsel over concerns of sparking an ethics crisis, including House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy
Harold (Trey) Watson GowdyPruitt is gone, but the investigations remain Dem calls for hearings on allegations Pruitt retaliated against staffers The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by Better Medicare Alliance — Expensive and brutal: Inside the Supreme Court fight ahead MORE (R-S.C.), who told Dowd that if he has an innocent client he should "act like it."
"The president maintains there was no collusion or obstruction of justice. Let's let Mueller finish his job and find out," Cohen added.
