Healey leads coalition of attorneys general calling for special prosecutor to oversee Russia probe

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is leading the call from attorneys general across the country for an independent special prosecutor to oversee the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, following President Donald Trump’s stunning firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Healey and a coalition of 20 attorneys general sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Thursday arguing that only the immediate appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election “can begin to restore public confidence.”

The letter included signatures from officials serving Maine, New York, Minnesota, and Hawaii, among others.

“We view the President’s firing of FBI Director James Comey in the middle of his investigation of Russian interference in the presidential election as a violation of the public trust,” Healey wrote in the letter.  “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.”

President Trump's firing of James Comey was a violation of public trust. Deputy AG Rosenstein must appoint a special counsel immediately. pic.twitter.com/gwWfW0TEI0

— Maura Healey (@MassAGO) May 11, 2017

Following Comey’s dismissal Tuesday, members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation issued swift demands for an independent investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.