Heidi M. Przybyla

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – Democratic lawmakers are being advised by a network of progressive activists trying – for the first time – to coordinate the party’s messaging on the special counsel investigation of President Trump’s Russia ties.

A core piece of advice: Do not "invoke impeachment."

The guidance comes from a memo funded by groups, including MoveOn.org, Stand Up America, American Bridge and End Citizens United, that are trying to help lawmakers navigate the politics of an incredibly complex issue. The federal probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia poses more risk to Trump’s presidency than any other – but it could also backfire if Democrats are too eager to capitalize on it in the coming weeks.

So far, Democratic efforts to impeach Trump have been limited to a few members like Rep. Brad Sherman of California, who introduced articles of impeachment earlier this year for Trump's alleged interference in the previous FBI's investigation into his campaign's contacts with Russia.

The messaging strategy is part of a series of outside efforts to coordinate around the Russia investigation as lawmakers return to Washington after the summer break struggling to balance the need to give special counsel Robert Mueller the space to conduct his investigation with the need to prepare for the worst – including that Trump could yet try to fire Mueller, whom the president has accused of conducting a “witch hunt.”

Progressive activists have also run paid advertising to target vulnerable House Republicans and an “emergency rapid response” triggering immediate rallies in most U.S. states should the president try to fire Mueller. The effort includes a search tool directing individuals where and when to commence protests depending on the time of day Mueller is fired.

“Our response in the minutes and hours following a power grab will dictate what happens next, and whether Congress – the only body with the constitutional power and obligation to rein Trump in from his rampage – will do anything to stand up to him,” the groups say in an advisory that includes a virtual map pointing activists where to assemble.

The rapid response effort includes more than 180 locations around the nation and has a telephone campaign underway to alert those in key congressional districts about the contingency plan.

A digital ad campaign last month in the districts of 19 vulnerable House Republicans in New York, Pennsylvania, California and elsewhere demanded they protect the investigation from White House influence. The campaign was financed by a group called Stand Up America, a progressive grassroots advocacy group funded by more than 12,000 small donors.

Trump and White House officials have tamped down talk of firing Mueller. Early last month Trump himself told reporters: “I’m not dismissing anybody.” Trump’s chief counsel John Dowd also told USA TODAY that firing Mueller has “never been on the table.”

Yet, prior to a summer recess, there was palpable anxiety in the halls of Congress that Trump might seek to thwart Mueller’s investigation into his campaign and its officials. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have expressed confidence in Mueller and said that he should be allowed to do his job.

After Trump publicly attacked Attorney General Jeff Sessions last month for recusing himself in the Russia investigation, lawmakers from both parties introduced legislation requiring judges to review any presidential firing, and force the president to provide specific legal reasons for taking such action.

In a July interview with the New York Times, Trump said Mueller reviewing his business dealings would cross a red line and be a "violation." Further, activists point to Trump's assurances to look out for transgender individuals and DACA immigrants before announcing recent policies targeting them.

The contingency plan reflects the degree of anxiety in the Democratic Party that Trump could take aim at Mueller as his investigation intensifies and embroils members of Trump's staff and family, including son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump has already fired former FBI Director James Comey, who was previously running the investigation, later acknowledging that Comey’s probe into Russia was behind the dismissal.

About three dozen progressive groups began circulating a memo advising them on the best ways to talk about the Russia probe.

The memo, by the outside polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, advises Democrats to stress the need to protect the investigation, draw a line against pardons and stress the national security implications of Russian meddling in the 2016 election while avoiding talk of impeachment. Another group, called Defend the Republic, is using the memo to push out regular talking points to television surrogates and party officials.

Nearly half of voters, 48%, say it would be wrong to remove Mueller, compared to 22% who say it would be appropriate for Trump to dismiss him, according to a recent POLITICO/Morning Consult poll.

Yet there is a big gap in partisan opinions and Trump has shown with recent decisions, including a pardon of former Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriff Joe Arpaio, to aiming his policy at the base of voters who most enthusiastically backed him last November. According to the poll, Republicans say it would be OK to fire Mueller, by 37% to 29%.

The memo stresses the importance of talking about the Russian issue in the right way, given no one knows how Mueller’s investigation will end.

“Be aware that new events may significantly change the landscape,” it said. “Voters show a strong inclination to shift their position as new facts emerge.”