Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government in Response to the Forced Resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions

November 9, 2018

In view of the forced resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the subsequent appointment of acting Attorney General Matthew J. Whitaker, we must once again insist that our leaders put politics aside and make every effort to safeguard the investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The legitimacy of the executive branch depends upon it.

While acknowledging that there are unanswered questions about the legality of the appointment of Acting Attorney General Whitaker, we urge him in the interim to uphold all laws, regulations, policies, and long-standing procedural norms to ensure that Special Counsel Mueller is able to fully and effectively complete his investigation regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.

We call upon President Trump to formally nominate a new Attorney General as soon as possible so that both he and the Senate can fulfill their constitutional duties. As part of its advice and consent, the Senate should confirm only a nominee who pledges to fully respect the independence of the special counsel investigation. Moreover, we insist that Special Counsel Mueller not be prevented from delivering a complete report to Congress so that the investigation’s findings may be acted upon appropriately.

The forced resignation of Sessions also underscores the need for Congress to act to protect the independence and integrity of the special counsel investigation without further delay. We thus petition Congress to pass S.2644, the bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act that Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) are seeking to bring to the Senate floor next week.

We honor the dedication and hard work of countless civil servants within the Department of Justice and the FBI who continue to fulfill their duties in pursuit of truth and justice, despite ongoing political interference. All concerned citizens must continue to raise their voices in support of the rule of law and those men and women who are playing a critical part in helping to preserve the public’s trust and confidence in our most important institutions.

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Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing. MWEG is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain the leaders and doctrines of the Church.