Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said Thursday that he and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., next week will push for a vote on a bill that would help protect the investigation being run by Robert Mueller into possible interference in the 2016 election by foreign actors.

The renewed interest in the bill comes after Jeff Sessions was forced to resign by President Trump on Wednesday and replaced by his chief of staff at the Justice Department, Matthew Whitaker. The legislation would add multiple new requirements to govern a special counsel investigation, including that the lone individual who could end an investigation would be the senior-most official at the Justice Department who is Senate confirmed. The senior-most official at the department currently is Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who had been overseeing the investigation.

"When the Senate convenes next week, @ChrisCoons and I will ask for unanimous consent to bring S.2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to a vote on the Senate floor," Flake said in a tweet. "After the firing of The AG, it is more important than ever to protect the Special Counsel."

[Related: Democrats push Jeff Sessions' replacement to protect Robert Mueller]



When the Senate convenes next week, @ChrisCoons and I will ask for unanimous consent to bring S.2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to a vote on the Senate floor. After the firing of The AG, it is more important than ever to protect the Special Counsel. — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 8, 2018

Additionally, the bill, which is co-sponsored by Coons, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., would allow Mueller or another special counsel to challenge their removal in court. It was initially introduced in April. It is unlikely to pass by unanimous consent.

The Senate is slated to reconvene on Tuesday for the first time since mid-October and the midterm elections.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had called for Whitaker to recuse himself from the investigation.