Patrick Leahy: “I sometimes think that those who are scheming for an independent counsel for this and an independent counsel for that…”

“I sometimes think that those who are scheming for an independent counsel for this and an independent counsel for that, counsel that often cost $20 or $30 million of the taxpayers' money, and millions of dollars more of individuals' money, have not bothered to stop and think what they are asking for. It may be good for the evening news and may make a Member of the House or Member of the Senate feel good because his or her name gets in the paper, but does it really help this country? In fact, some might ask about this rush to come on the floor Friday, the steady stream of my friends on the Republican side of the aisle who blast the President and tear after the President. I am surprised they did not say, 'Why don't we double-check with Bethesda as to what time he will actually be in surgery so maybe we could go on recess or go to our own fundraisers at that time and then come back and make sure he sees just how we are tearing him apart.' I suggested half joking on Friday that they would set aside another $1 million that we could appropriate of the taxpayers' money to send a delegation of Members up to Bethesda to make sure, indeed, he was being operated on. It was about that ridiculous. I first came to the Senate at a time when Democrats and Republicans showed some respect for whoever was holding the office of President of the United States and had some realization that the person serving as President, like the rest of us, is a human being and an individual.”