A Rosenstein red line?

When last we met for a Trump-Russia investigation update, we were concerned that the August 21, 2018 convictions of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen had shoved us closer to the precipice of a constitutional crisis.

Well, a month later it feels like we’re dangling by our fingertips. Breaking news on September 24 about Rod Rosenstein’s status as deputy Attorney General included conflicting accounts on whether he was planning to resign, had been fired, or remained in his post as Robert Mueller’s boss on the investigation. The White House eventually said that Rosenstein still had a job, but would meet with the Current Occupant on Thursday, September 27.

Because as of now Rosenstein has not been fired, the Nobody Is Above the Law network has NOT triggered the rapid-response plan. Indivisible National’s updated article makes an additional point that the administration is sowing chaos to distract from the ongoing fight over the Supreme Court, and until we have news that Rosenstein has been fired, we must focus on supporting the brave survivors coming forward to tell their stories and fight to keep Brett Kavanaugh from getting confirmed.

These are “red lines” issued by MoveOn, Indivisible, and many other groups, meaning that any of the following will trigger mass protest:

• If Trump fires Mueller or Rosenstein
• If Trump pardons key witnesses
• If Trump takes another action that prevents the investigation from being conducted freely, such as replacing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Mueller’s current supervisor or repealing the regulations establishing the office
• Additional red line added on Sept. 24: The Mueller investigation releases findings showing significant wrongdoing by Donald Trump. Or Congress or the administration blocks the public from seeing Mueller’s findings.

What you can do now:

• MoveOn’s Mueller’s Firing Rapid Response – The Plan lists the basics, and also addresses something we’re all wondering — what happens AFTER we hit the streets?
• Find and RSVP to attend a Nobody Is Above the Law rapid response rally near you (900+ events as of Sept. 24, 2018)
• No local rally? Sign up to host one. And spread the word by sending the link to everyone you know
• Read our articles for historical background, much more information, and to learn what actions we’ve been taking:
  • August 22, 2018: Manfort. Cohen. Trump? Guilty, Guilty, Guilty! 
  • April 12, 2018 (updated May 1, 2018): Nobody is Above the Law
  • Feb. 7, 2018: Destroying Democracy: Worse Than Watergate, More than Mueller
  • Dec. 12, 2017: No One is Above The Law
  • Nov. 3, 2017: No Saturday Night Massacre 2017

Contact your Members of Congress! See our article for a historical overview of the bills introduced to protect the investigation, none of which have progressed.

• Call your Senators and ask them to:
  • Demand a vote on, and to support the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act (S. 2644) to protect Mueller and the Russia investigation.
  • Protect the special counsel’s office, including preserving its files and staff and ensuring it receives the full cooperation of all federal government law enforcement assets.
  • Demand the creation of a modern-day version of the Senate Select Watergate Committee to investigate all matters involved in the Russia scandals and Trump’s abuse of power and obstruction of justice
• Call your Representative and ask him or her to do all they can to pass legislation to protect the Special Counsel and the investigation, and to call for bipartisan hearings in the House Judiciary Committee on obstruction of justice and abuse of power

Sen. Dianne Feinstein: (email); (415) 393-0707 • DC: (202) 224-3841
Sen. Kamala Harris: (email); (415) 355-9041 • DC: (202) 224-3553
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier: (email); (510) 620-1000 • DC: (202) 225-2095
Rep. Barbara Lee: (email); (510) 763-0370 • DC: (202) 225-2661
Rep. Eric Swalwell: (email); (510) 370-3322 • DC: (202) 225-5065

And prepare if we need to hit the streets:

• Read the ACLU’s article Know Your Rights: Free Speech, Protests & Demonstrations
• Download the ACLU’s Mobile Justice app to record police activity and send it immediately to the ACLU affiliate nearest you. Get the California app, MobileJusticeCA
• Put the National Lawyers Guild hotline numbers into your phone, and write them on your arm in ink:
  • to call from local jails ONLY: 415-285-1011
  • outside of jail calls, call NLG hotline volunteers: 415-909-4NLG (4654)
  • if no answer, send an email to the NLG Demonstrations Committee at nlgsfhotline@protonmail.com
• Get your go-bag together:
  • charged cell phone and portable power if you have
  • water bottle and energy bars or other portable food
  • medications you may need
  • layers of clothing to add if it gets cold
  • a sign with your message