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Thousands of protesters assembled across the country on Thursday night to show support for special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
The protests sprang up in reaction to a shakeup at the Department of Justice that has thrown the future of that investigation into doubt. On Wednesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions abruptly resigned, at the request of President Donald Trump. The president then moved to appoint Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general, who will now oversee the special counsel probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Whitaker, formerly Sessions’s chief of staff, is considered a Trump loyalist. He’s also expressed skepticism about the Mueller investigation, and publicly mused about ways to curtail its reach.
Trump’s decision to appoint Whitaker and pass over Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — the No. 2 person at the DOJ, who previously headed up the Mueller investigation — has raised fears that the president is finally moving to stymie an investigation he’s long opposed.
In response, about 100,000 people turned out across the country, with protests popping up in approximately 900 cities nationwide, according to organizers. Progressive groups mobilized the “rapid response” rallies just one day after Sessions’s resignation.
Crowds gathered in Times Square in New York City at 5 pm local time, with thousands marching downtown to Union Square. They chanted “Nobody is Above the Law,” and brandished signs and banners that demanded “Hands Off Mueller.”
More than 900 protests are popping up nationwide to #ProtectMueller. This video comes from @MarkHelenowski in Times Square. pic.twitter.com/NOwcI8VKwf
— Q. Allan Brocka (@allanbrocka) November 8, 2018
“What do we want?”
— Mark Helenowski (@MarkHelenowski) November 9, 2018
”Justice!”
“When do we want it?”
”Now!”
Full-throated cheers from the front of the #ProtectMueller rally as they near Union Square. pic.twitter.com/RxuuhylGXF
Free speech: the sounds of a protest in support of Mueller fill #TimesSquare - #NYC's town square where free expression has always been part of the landscape. Thanks also to #NYPD for quick response to help with safety & crowd flow. pic.twitter.com/g8DVwxC89j
— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) November 8, 2018
Okay. I did chuckle at this chant. “We’re not a mob, we just like Bob” pic.twitter.com/jCT2al467s
— Van Tieu (@Van_Tieu) November 8, 2018
There were similar protests in cities from Washington, DC, to Seattle. Smaller towns and cities also held rallies that sometimes consisted of just a few people on a street corner.
If you’re in Washington, DC come join us at Lafayette Square as we remind everyone that #NoOneIsAboveTheLaw @NoOneIsAboveLaw @TrumanProject #ProtectMueller pic.twitter.com/kLbjKFfuNt
— Bishop Garrison (@BishopGarrison) November 8, 2018
“I attended because I care about the rule of law and this nonpartisan process,” an employee at the Department of Homeland Security who attended the Washington, DC protest told Vox. “Over 30 people have been indicted or made plea deals. This is no witch hunt. I wish I could take it as a foregone conclusion that the shuffle of AG’s was benign; I do not. Robert Mueller’s investigation strengthens America. It must continue.”
Massive turnout at Baltimore’s #ProtectMueller protest at War Memorial Plaza downtown — happening now.@RepSarbanes just said “The Democrats didn’t take back the House — the PEOPLE took back the House.” Amen. pic.twitter.com/GKfzGGtcFm
— Indivisible Baltimore (@indivisible410) November 8, 2018
A lot of us came out in Seattle tonight to protect our democracy and the rule of law. #ProtectMueller pic.twitter.com/9a23eGJe6x
— Shane C. Mason (@wrongdog) November 9, 2018
Protest aimed at protecting the Mueller investigation happening now in Chicago. Hundreds gathered. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/3uuWLTVIlf
— Wendy Widom (@wendywidom) November 8, 2018
Representing @IndivisibleOmah at the #ProtectMueller Rapid Resist Protest in St. Paul, MN at the State Capital! #Indivisible #ResistTrump #Indivisible pic.twitter.com/nbhaCtf2tG
— Indivisible Omaha (@IndivisibleOmah) November 8, 2018
Since the Whitaker announcement, Democratic lawmakers, including Democratic state attorneys general, have demanded that Whitaker recuse himself from the Mueller investigation because of his past remarks, and leave Rosenstein in place. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have said the Mueller investigation should continue unimpeded.
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake (AZ) said Thursday that he and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons (CT) will demand a vote on a bill to protect Mueller — though there’s no guarantee that even if it goes to the vote it will pass the Senate, let alone the GOP-controlled House.
When the Senate convenes next week, @ChrisCoons and I will ask for unanimous consent to bring S.2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to a vote on the Senate floor. After the firing of The AG, it is more important than ever to protect the Special Counsel.
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 8, 2018
There are also rumblings over potential challenges to Whitaker’s appointment. Both conservative and liberal lawyers have suggested Whitaker’s appointment as acting attorney general is unconstitutional because he’s not Senate-confirmed, among other legal pitfalls.
Whitaker remains in place, and in power, for now. But the backlash is intensifying.
Alexia Underwood contributed reporting to this story.