Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday that the upper chamber should not vote to confirm a new FBI director until the Department of Justice appoints a special counsel to oversee the investigation into possible collusion between Trump associates and Russian operatives. “I think there are a lot of Democrats who feel that way,” Schumer said on CNN’s State of the Union. “We’ll have to discuss it as a caucus, but I would support that move.” Republican congressional leaders have pushed back at the suggestion of a special counsel, while Democrats have said it is necessary after President Donald Trump abruptly fired James Comey. Schumer added that Trump’s nominee to replace Comey should be nonpartisan and have prosecutorial experience. “If there is interference, or attempted interference, to shut down the investigation, to misdirect it—you need somebody who’s going to stand up,” Schumer said.
—Andrew Desiderio
