Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Eugene federal courthouse tonight to decry President Trump’s firing of now former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. KLCC’s Brian Bull was there.
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While Sessions wasn’t popular with most in this crowd, he did recuse himself from investigating whether or not Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia…a move that soured his relationship with the president.
Newly-appointed acting AG, Matthew Whitaker, is seen as more tightly-aligned with Trump…and has openly criticized the extent of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.
David Fidanque, former executive director of the Oregon ACLU - says this means Whitaker should recuse himself as well.
“It’s a time for all Americans to be in touch with their elected representatives, and to be participating in rallies like this one to make sure that the Senate and Congress know that Americans care about their fundamental freedoms and are watching."
The Eugene protest was one of more than 900 organized by the group, Nobody is Above the Law.
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Hundreds of activists gathered at the federal courthouse in Eugene tonight. They were part of a national protest against President Trump’s firing of his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions right after midterms. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports:
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Trump has now hired Matthew Whttaker as Acting Attorney General. Many critics see the former U.S. Attorney from Iowa as a crony, who could derail the probe headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. At question is Russia’s alleged collusion with the Trump Campaign leading up to his presidential victory in 2016.
Lin Woodrich of Indivisible Eugene says Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has just been relieved from overseeing the investigation.
“And Whittaker wrote an op-ed last year, saying it’s time for Rosenstein to order Mueller to limit the scope of his investigation. So Whitaker will now have the power to do exactly that.”
Republican reaction to Sessions’ firing has largely been muted, though some – including Senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins – have stated that the Trump Administration should not impede Mueller’s investigation.
Copyright 2018, KLCC.