Flake Will Attempt To Force Vote On Protecting Mueller

The Hill reports:

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announced Thursday that he will try to force a vote on legislation protecting special counsel Robert Mueller in the wake of President Trump ousting Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Flake said he and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) will go to the Senate floor next week to try to get a deal on advancing the legislation.

Under Senate rules, Flake can go to the floor and ask for consent to set up a vote or even pass a piece of legislation. But any one senator can block his request, and given the opposition within the GOP caucus to the special counsel bill, Flake’s move will likely be unsuccessful.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation last year that would protect Mueller, or any other special counsel, in the event he is fired, but the bill has stalled amid opposition from GOP leadership.

When the Senate convenes next week, @ChrisCoons and I will ask for unanimous consent to bring S.2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to a vote on the Senate floor. After the firing of The AG, it is more important than ever to protect the Special Counsel.

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 8, 2018