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Attorney General Peter Kilmartin Calls for Independent Special Counsel Following Firing of FBI Director James Comey

Today, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in calling for the immediate appointment of an independent special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the presidential election.

The letter, sent to the U.S. Department of Justice's Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, calls the firing of FBI Director James Comey during his ongoing investigation "a violation of the public trust."

"As prosecutors committed to the rule of law, we urge you to consider the damage to our democratic system of any attempts by the administration to derail and delegitimize the investigation," the letter states.

The attorneys general also argue that the residents in their states "deserve a thorough investigation that makes clear the extent of Russian meddling, any collusion by Trump campaign officials, and any cover-up."

Attorney General Kilmartin added, "The American people must have absolute faith that the FBI is free to conduct investigations without interference, and I believe the proper, and only, way to move forward is with the appointment of a special counsel to take over the investigation of Russian interference in the election."

Joining Attorney General Kilmartin in today's letter are attorneys general from Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and Washington.

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