US Democrats seek hearings on Trump ousting Sessions

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01:55

Congressional Democrats on Thursday demanded emergency hearings in the US House of Representatives to investigate President Donald Trump's ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling the move an effort to undermine a federal probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.

Trump forced the resignation of Sessions on Wednesday, a day after elections in which his fellow Republicans lost control of the House but increased their majority in the Senate.

Read more: Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions

In a letter saying the move placed the country "in the throes of a constitutional crisis," House Judiciary Committee Democrats demanded action from the panel's Republican Chairman Bob Goodlatte, and called for bipartisan legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from any effort to stymie the probe.

A spokeswoman for Goodlatte had no comment on the letter.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions listens during an event on actions to combat the opioid crisis in the Great Hall at the Department of Justice in Washin‍gton, DC, US, October 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

Mueller is investigating Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election and any collusion by Trump's campaign. Trump, who denies any collusion, has long complained about the probe, calling it a witch hunt. He had frequently publicly castigated Sessions for recusing himself last year from the case.

The Democrats said they also want the Justice Department to protect the integrity of Mueller's investigation and to preserve relevant documents.

“The forced firing of Attorney General Sessions appears to be part of an ongoing pattern of behavior by the president seeking to undermine (the) investigation into Russian interference,” said the letter to Goodlatte, written by Representative Jerrold Nadler, the committee's top Democrat, and 16 other Democrats who sit on the panel.

“The president's actions have plunged the country into peril,” the Democrats added. “By forcing the firing (of) the attorney general, the president now threatens the rule of law itself.”

Bipartisan bills to protect Mueller from politically motivated removal have been introduced in the House and Senate. One was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in April, making it eligible for a full Senate vote. But no action is expected.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell blocked consideration of the Senate bill earlier this year. His spokesman said on Thursday that McConnell has no further comment on the legislation.

House Democrats said on Wednesday that they would attempt to include a measure protecting Mueller into an appropriations bill that Congress is due to consider later this year.

When the Democrats take over the House, they are expected to launch numerous probes of Trump and his administration.

Moscow denies interfering in the 2016 election.

Source(s): Reuters