Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, Donald Trump’s longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen pled guilty to attempting to influence the 2016 election “in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office,” implicating Donald Trump in a federal crime. Within minutes, Trump’s former Campaign Chair Paul Manafort was separately convicted in the Mueller investigation.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, along with Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, called for Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court hearing to be “immediately postponed” while the Senate Judiciary Committee investigates the charges made against Donald Trump and his 2016 campaign. Sen. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Ed Markey cancelled their scheduled interviews with Kavanaugh.
Earlier this month, Trump’s lawyers said that if Special Counsel Robert Mueller subpoenas Trump, they’ll file a “motion to quash” the subpoena that would likely go to the Supreme Court. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh -- who previously said that a sitting President should be above the law, should not be subject criminal indictment no matter what evidence is uncovered, and can ignore the laws he or she thinks are unconstitutional -- could be the deciding vote on this decision.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"Sen. Grassley and Sen. McConnell have a constitutional duty and a responsibility to the American people to thoroughly investigate the serious accusations made against Donald Trump, and that should be the first order of business for the Senate Judiciary Committee. Until that investigation is complete, there is no legitimate reason to move forward with Brett Kavanaugh’s hearing. Brett Kavanaugh’s views on presidential power and immunity are alarming given the mounting evidence against Donald Trump and his campaign, and any continued attempt to install him to a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be a red flag for all Senators and the people they represent across the country.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.