Press Release  AG Healey Leads Coaltion of 20 Attorneys General in Calling for an Independent Special Counsel Following President Trump’s Firing of FBI Director James Comey

BOSTON — Calling the firing of FBI Director James Comey a “violation of public trust,” Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in calling for the immediate appointment of an independent special counsel to continue the investigation of Russian interference in the presidential election.

The letter, sent to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, urges him to consider “the damage to our democratic system of any attempts by the administration to derail and delegitimize the investigation” that Comey led until his termination.

“The administration’s firing of FBI Director James Comey is a transparent attempt to obscure the truth and a violation of the public trust,” AG Healey said. “As state attorneys general, the chief law enforcement officers of our respective states, we urge the Justice Department to make this appointment immediately.”

The letter also states “the American people deserve a thorough investigation that makes clear the extent of Russian meddling, any collusion by Trump campaign officials, and any cover-up.”

Joining Attorney General Healey in today’s letter  are attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and Washington.

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