On Wednesday, Lee argued that the legislation to protect Muller would “fundamentally [undermine] the principle of separation of powers that is so core to our liberty.” He added, “Prosecutorial authority in the United States belongs in the Department of Justice.”
In his remarks at the Senate floor on Wednesday, Flake reiterated that Trump is “demeaning and ridiculing” the special counsel on a daily basis via Twitter. The president repeated condemned the Russia probe as a “witch hunt.” “To be sanguine about the chances of him getting fired is a folly for us,” he said.
Flake vowed that he will not support the GOP’s judicial nominees until its leadership allows a vote on the legislation. He kept his word and voted against Thomas Farr, a nominee for district judge. His move prompted Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to cancel votes on almost a dozen judicial nominees this week.
“We need to protect the special counsel, it’s important. Confirming judges is important. I want to confirm more judges … but this has to be priority now. And you have to take a stand. I have leverage because we have a narrow majority on the Judiciary Committee, so I’m using it,” said Flake
