LISTEN: Attorneys General Demand Special Counsel Investigate Russian Interference in Election

Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Attorneys general from 20 states, including Maryland and Virginia, and the District of Columbia are demanding a special counsel be hired to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring are among those who wrote a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein of the U.S. Department of Justice making the request.

“As the chief law enforcement officers of our respective states, we view the President’s firing of FBI Director James Comey in the middle of his investigation of Russian interference in the presidential election as a violation of the public trust,” the letter said.

They said hiring a special counsel to look into Russian interference in the election is the only way to restore the public’s trust.

They believe the residents in their states deserve to know extent of the Russian meddling, whether Trump campaign officials were involved and whether there was any cover-up.

President Donald Trump’s decision drew harsh criticism from Democrats, and many of them are also calling for a special counsel.

“If we don’t get a special prosecutor, every American will rightfully suspect that the decision to fire #Comey was part of a cover-up,” Sen. Chuck Schumer tweeted Tuesday.

“Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!” Mr. Trump tweeted Wednesday.

You can read the full letter here: