Protesters chanted, “Two, four, six, eight, we want Mueller to investigate,” and “Let Bob do his job,” as they marched a winding route through downtown Burlington. Police escorted the protest, which blocked rush hour traffic. Some drivers honked in support of the demonstrators as they passed.
John Tracy, Leahy’s state director, told the crowd that grassroots activism like theirs “may very well prevent a Constitutional crisis.”
Reading a statement from Leahy, Tracy said Sessions’ replacement, acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, “has spent years as a partisan political operative. He has heavily criticized the Special Counsel’s investigation. He has publicly discussed defunding it.”
The crowd erupted in cheers when Leahy’s statement made a clear demand: “Mr. Whitaker needs to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. And do so immediately.”
Ryan McLaren, a Welch staffer who uses a wheelchair due to partial paraplegia, stood and leaned against a railing to read his boss’ statement. “If this isn’t worth standing for, what is?” McLaren quipped, generating cheers from demonstrators gathered below.
“While I am glad to see [Sessions] go, his departure further jeopardizes the credible investigation by Robert Mueller into efforts during the 2016 election to undermine our democracy,” it read. “It is vital that this investigation reach its conclusion without political influence or intimidation.”
Welch also called on Whitaker to recuse himself immediately.
“The American people must be absolutely confident that the president is putting their needs first,” Early read, drawing some chuckles from the crowd. She continued: “It’s a disgrace that that isn’t the case.”
“We are propelled by the desire to save our democracy,” she said.
Kunin said the explanation for Sessions’ firing was simple.
“He said no to the president who wants his minions to answer yes,” she said, referring to Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.
Kunin said Whitaker is clearly biased against the investigation, and his appointment was like a “fox guarding the hen house.”
Attorney Robert Appel, who practices civil rights and criminal defense, spoke on behalf of the Vermont Lawyers Guild.
“I would call it more of the weasel guarding the hen house,” Appel said, referring to Whitaker.
“We gotta be active, we gotta be aware,” he said, “because this is a slippery slope and we’re sliding down it.”
An estimated 350 people attended the rally, according to Burlington deputy police chief Jannine Wright.
An email from the Burlington nonprofit Peace & Justice Center, which organized the Vermont events, said the protesters had three demands:
- Demand members of Congress protect the special counsel’s office, including preserving its files and staff and ensuring it receives the full cooperation of all federal government law enforcement assets.
- Demand the creation of a modern-day version of the Senate Select Watergate Committee to investigate all matters involved in the Russia scandals and Trump’s abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
- Demand bipartisan hearings in the House Judiciary Committee on obstruction of justice and abuse of power.
Jeanne Keller, one of the organizers, told the crowd that they don’t have any more events planned yet, but they don’t plan to stop. The Peace & Justice Center is holding a planning meeting next Monday at noon to discuss how to maintain pressure on elected officials to protect Mueller’s investigation.
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Also the only way Mueller can be fired is from a senior official of the justice department in writing. Then the case goes to the Senate for examination and review of the files and see if there is any good reason for the firing or the stopping of the investigation
Expressing ones righteous indignation with other like minded individuals may lead to feelings of satisfaction and empowerment . One thing it will NOT do is “Protect Mueller From Trump” . Perhaps if they sang kumbaya .
On an Autumn afternoon, the herd gathered to graze and mingle while listening to Welch, Leahy, Sanders, Kunin, etc., doing their version of Death of a Salesman, desperate to regain a sense of relevance; it is so “Old Vermont” But take heart, it was a small percentage of the slumbering population that safely grazed. Now a new world is unfolding that brings great expectations. No more Soros funded sedition; no more $40,000,000 witch hunt fraudulently concocted by Hillary, the FBI, London, and other deepstate criminals; and did I mention the media? What we are witnessing is the prosecution by Whitaker of the greatest act of treason in our recorded history. Exciting times we live in….enormous changes..stay safe.
Pelosi June 2017; “When you talk about all of these things, remember there’s something strange that isn’t connecting,” Pelosi said. “Now I can’t…confirm or deny the issue of the third meeting. But I did say on March 2 that he should resignSessions should resign as attorney general.”
Pelosi yesterday; ‘It is impossible to read Attorney General Sessions firing as anything other than another blatant attempt by @RealDonaldTrump to undermine & end Special Counsel Muellers investigation,’
E. Warren June 2017;”As our top law enforcement officer, the AG must be truthful and uphold the law. Sessions cannot continue to serve. He should resign.
E. Warren yesterday; “trumps firing of Jeff Sessions brings us one step closer to a constitutional crisis. Congress must act to ensure Special Council Muller can do his job without interference.
Which is it?
The only crisis is the one created by the democrats and their media creating hysteria in the streets.
At this point, only the most gullible of our citizenry still believe the Russia narrative.
“At this point, only the most gullible of our citizenry still believe the Russia narrative.”
Well, apparently that gullible citizenry includes a lot of highly educated Republicans.
Go, Mueller, Go.
“Hundreds” may have proteste but thousands didn’t
“At this point, only the most gullible of our citizenry still believe the Russia narrative.” Does that mean that “the most gullible of our citizenry” includes all five high-ranking officials who have already pled guilty and the dozens more who are under indictment, not to mention those in attendance at the Trump Tower meeting with the Russian lawyer who have not yet been indicted? Hmm.
Paul Richards wants to pretend that believing that Sessions should resign (for any number of reasons) contradicts the demand that he not be fired at this time and under these circumstances. It isn’t. The first simply notes his significant inability to carry out the office for which he was appointed. Sessions conceded the point at the outset of the Trump administration by recusing himself from an investigation in which he might be a target. The fact that Trump can’t forgive him for answering to his office and not this president is irrelevant.
The second is a recognition that firing him in the midst of an ongoing investigation of the very person who is firing him is a serious abuse of power and quite possibly a criminal act: namely, obstruction of justice. There is no contradiction between these positions: none at all.
Amazing how liberals will believe CNN or any of those far left media fools. For 2 yrs the democrats wanted Sessions fired. Now that he has resigned they are flipping out. Just like Comey, the democrats wanted him fired, then when Trump fired him they had a melt down.. The democrats have no idea what they want.. They can’t have it both ways. tho they think they are entitled too.. If someone isn’t doing their job that they were hired to do you fire them. !!! Mmmm think we should fire the 3 bald amigos and the liberals in the legislation. Well we can dream…
“Amazing how liberals will believe CNN or any of those far left media fools.”
Because CNN doesn’t just repeat the outright lies that the White House puts out multiple times a day??? Because CNN — as all media should do — actually questions the things the White House says???
I’m very glad that there are news sources that actually bother to find out if the White House is telling the truth.
Here’s what’s actually amazing:
“Amazing how Trumpians will ignore the President’s outright, bald faced lies.”
How is tendering a resignation the same as being fired????
No Democrat has the slightest clue of how our Democracy was intended to work, they are all Communists!