Washington • Sen. Mike Lee of Utah objected Wednesday to passing legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, scuttling a bipartisan attempt to ensure President Donald Trump can’t end the probe into whether he or his team colluded with Russia to sway the 2016 election.
Democratic Sens. Chris Coons and Cory Booker and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake had attempted to pass the bill by unanimous consent, a maneuver that can be blocked by a single senator.
Lee cited a 30-year-old dissent by Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia arguing that protecting an independent counsel from presidential power creates a “fourth branch of government.