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“RUSSIA INVESTIGATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S5511-S5512 on July 31, 2018.
The Department is one of the oldest in the US, focused primarily on law enforcement and the federal prison system. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, detailed wasteful expenses such as $16 muffins at conferences and board meetings.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I wish to discuss the importance of the Justice Department's independent investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 Presidential election.
The interference with our election process by a hostile government was an attack on our democracy and a threat to our national security, carried out by Russian operatives at the direction of Vladimir Putin himself. As the intelligence community's unclassified report concluded,
``We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election. Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump.''
Since Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russia's attack, 32 indictments have been returned in connection with the investigation, including indictments against Russian individuals and companies, as well as former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and deputy campaign manager Rick Gates, who were charged with ``conspiracy against the United States.'' Mr. Mueller has also secured guilty pleas from other campaign advisers, including George Papadopoulos and Michael Flynn.
Despite this ample evidence of wrongdoing, the President has attempted to impede the Russia probe every step of the way, falsely branding it a ``witch hunt.'' So far, the Mueller investigation has continued to produce results, despite these attacks. We must be clear that any attempt to remove special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would take our Nation into uncharted territory. I am disturbed that, last week, a group of the President's allies in the House of Representatives filed unwarranted articles of impeachment against Mr. Rosenstein, who has worked to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the independent Russia investigation can continue.
Both Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Mueller have admirable records of public service. Mr. Mueller, whose qualifications, experience, and character I have previously detailed on the floor, was a decorated hero of the Vietnam war, a U.S. Attorney, and a widely respected director of the FBI. There is no one better equipped to lead the Russia probe.
Mr. Rosenstein, like Mr. Mueller, also has a long and distinguished career in public service. A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Rosenstein graduated from the Wharton School and Harvard Law School, after which he clerked for Judge Douglas Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
He initially joined the Department of Justice nearly 30 years ago through the Attorney General's Honors Program. He started as a trial attorney with the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, prosecuting public corruption cases. Mr. Rosenstein rose through the ranks, serving as counsel to the Deputy Attorney General; special assistant to the Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division; associate independent counsel in the Office of the Independent Counsel; and assistant U.S. attorney in Maryland. He was recognized for his work at the Department of Justice with a 1993 ``Commendation Award'' from the Criminal Division, a 1994 ``Outstanding Contribution to Justice'' award from the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, and a 1997
``Appreciation Award'' from the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section.
In 2001, he became Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division, where he supervised the criminal sections, coordinated tax enforcement activities, and oversaw civil litigation. Then, in 2005, he returned to the Maryland U.S. attorney's office, this time as the top Federal prosecutor. He served as U.S. Attorney for over a decade, until he was nominated to become Deputy Attorney General in 2017. His nomination to this critically important post, at a critically important time for our Nation, was approved overwhelmingly by this body, by a vote of 94 to 6.
Mr. Rosenstein has a wealth of experience at the Department of Justice and has served our country and the American public with honor and distinction since he entered the legal profession. During his many years at the Department of Justice, he has shown his commitment to the rule of law and the legal process.
At no time could such commitment be more vital. Our rule of law is under siege from multiple fronts, including from members of this administration and the President himself.
Rod Rosenstein and Robert Mueller have so far been able to oversee an independent investigation, but the threat of interference still remains. Both of these respected public servants have been the target of vicious and unfounded partisan attacks with no purpose but to discredit and delegitimize the Russia investigation. These attacks are not only shameful; they are undemocratic.
We cannot successfully counter foreign threats to our democracy without holding up our own institutions from within. A fundamental principle of our democracy--equal justice under law--has been tested by this President and his advisers since he entered the White House. We, too, are being tested. As Members of Congress, will we step up as a coequal branch of government and ensure that there are consequences when our principles are breached? As Americans, will we hold our public officials accountable when they work to undermine the democratic values that define us as a nation?
That is why I call on Leader McConnell to bring the bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act to the floor for a vote. It is why I want to emphasize that any interference with this investigation, whether it is with Mr. Mueller, Mr. Rosenstein, FBI Director Wray, or any other official at the Department of Justice, is a line in the sand that must not be crossed. No one--even and especially the President of the United States--is above the law.
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