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'Trump is not above the law': Protesters across US call for Russia probe to be protected

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been replaced by a Trump loyalist who has criticised the investigation.

PROTESTERS ACROSS THE US have called for the protection of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into potential coordination between Russia and President Donald Trump’s campaign.

Russia Probe Protests Protesters march through Times Square in New York City. Mary Altaffer Mary Altaffer

Several hundred demonstrators gathered in New York’s Times Square yesterday and chanted slogans including “Hands off Mueller” and “Nobody’s above the law” before marching downtown.

p Thousands of people attended a protest in Portland, Oregon. John Rudoff / SIPA USA/PA Images John Rudoff / SIPA USA/PA Images / SIPA USA/PA Images

In Chicago, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin joined several hundred protesters at Federal Plaza.

Large crowds – some in the thousands – also turned out at the White House and in Greensboro, North Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas and many other places.

Russia Probe Protests Protesters gather in front of the White House in Washington DC. Andrew Harnik / AP Andrew Harnik / AP / AP

Organisers said the naming of Matthew Whitaker as acting Attorney General is a “deliberate attempt to obstruct the special counsel’s investigation”.

Jeff Sessions 

Trump asked for Jeff Sessions’ resignation earlier this week and replaced him with Whitaker, his chief of staff. 

Trump Russia Probe Cary Garrett (left) and Leslie Thomasson with blows up a 'Baby Trump' balloons at a protest in Chattanooga, Tennessee. C.B. Schmelter / Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP C.B. Schmelter / Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP / Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP

Sessions’ axing capped more than a year of bitter criticism by the president over his legal advisor’s decision to recuse himself from the probe into Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election, paving the way for the appointment of Mueller.

Alarm bells 

Whitaker’s appointment set off immediate alarm bells: Whitaker has been overtly critical of the broad scope granted to Mueller’s team to probe beyond allegations that Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in 2016, into other ties between Trump, his family and aides, and Russia — an investigation the president has called a “witch hunt”.

law Myla Johnson holds a sign in protest against President Trump's firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions (Dallas, Texas). Jaime Carrero / Zuma Press/PA Images Jaime Carrero / Zuma Press/PA Images / Zuma Press/PA Images

Democrats, who regained control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterm elections, have sharply criticised the move. 

“The rule of law is disappearing before our eyes,” tweeted Sally Yates, a deputy attorney general under Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama and briefly in the top job under Trump before he sacked her.

“He wants a political crony to protect him from the investigation of his own campaign,” she said.

Contains reporting from © AFP 2018 and Órla Ryan 

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    Mute VoiceOfVanguard
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:30 PM

    The pension levy will be abolished at end of next year, not this year.
    And the double-Irish will be abolished next year for new companies, and for all by end-2020 – not next January.

    Separately, WTF is that 25% Christmas bonus all about??
    I thought we abolished THAT nonsense a few years ago.

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:33 PM

    Hi – I just added in the 0.6% to the first Pension Levy mention there, that’s the one abolished by end of 2014. The second part was mentioned in its section. Thanks!

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:37 PM

    buying older electoral vote, pure and simple

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    Mute Fluich It
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:39 PM

    25% is free money to people with no jobs. I have no problem giving it to those that worked and lost a job. But it should not be given to those that have never worked, most especially those that didn’t work during the boom years when jobs were everywhere.

    Simon it is not just for pensioners, it is for all social welfare receipients.

    Loads of money for free ‘social houses’ too.

    117
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:43 PM

    The Christmas bonus is zero compared to the bankers bonus on screwing their customers

    33
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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:53 PM

    I really see the greed coming through here. It’s all about me, me, me. Can you all not see that we have a huge number of poor people all over the place, people who are really struggling.

    53
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    Mute VoiceOfVanguard
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:56 PM

    @Eugene.
    yes, they’re called the working class.

    66
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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:59 PM

    The only greed I see is the government greedily trying to buy votes,

    36
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    Mute Jennie
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:40 PM

    25% Christmas bonus to social welfare recipients…. eh why?
    There’s a million better things I could think of spending that money on.

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    Mute Livida Kelly
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:45 PM

    It’s for pensioners!!! Relax you and I won’t be any worse off

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    Mute John Deane
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:47 PM

    Livida

    its for all Social Welfare Recipients

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    Mute Livida Kelly
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:54 PM

    Really?? I am pretty sure it was announced that it was for pensioners on a social welfare payment.
    Aah well, I still won’t be any worse off so won’t begrudge anyone who needs it, it’s a once off 25% payment for gods sake… Take a look at what enda and Joan are taking from the tax payer…

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    Mute Jennie
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:02 PM

    In reading the above article it looks to be to all social welfare recipients. And it’s a once off to a huge number of people. I’m pretty sure that adds up to just a little bit more than pocket change.
    My point was this would be better spent elsewhere.

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Oct 15th 2014, 6:59 AM

    A 25% Christmas bonus going to people that I know for a fact wouldn’t get up to warm themselves!!!!! And then people going out to work are being screwed!!! A joke!

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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Oct 15th 2014, 7:29 AM

    Quite the little right wing fascist, aren’t we?

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    Mute Sinead
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    Oct 15th 2014, 9:24 AM

    Not everyone on social welfare is there by choice, some of them are but not all! Both my parents worked and paid taxes up until my dad became terminally ill and was not fit to work anymore and shortly after that my mum became his carer (leaving her full time job!). Are you saying you’d begrudge them a 100 or so at Christmas when they struggle to make ends meet through no fault of their own?

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    Mute Sean Hanaway
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    Oct 16th 2014, 5:01 PM

    No one says your family doesnt deserve it, it’s the family who spent all day doing nothing or drinking and are able to buy there 3 kids ipads and laptops and phones for xmas because they get the dole, rent supplement and what ever else extra and whos kids left school early because they couldn’t be bothered and are know also sitting on the dole, where as other people who go out and work 50+ hrs a week and have so high of taxes they struggle to afford presents for there kids because there money is being used to pay for the other ppl who definetely do not deserve it!

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:32 PM

    Lucinda is on tv now blasting the government she backed until she lost the plot .

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    Mute Peter Grimes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 4:28 PM

    When they get rid of the water tax

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    Mute The Shineading
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    Oct 14th 2014, 5:21 PM

    What happened to free health care for under 5 children which was promised last budget if I can remember? Not holding my breath with this €5 increase in Childcare Benefit

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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Oct 15th 2014, 8:07 AM

    I’m going to be saving the government the tax relief amount on my water allowance……

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    Mute Joe Murtagh
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    Oct 15th 2014, 11:43 AM

    Of d fags so

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