Bill to protect special counsels such as Robert Mueller blocked on the Senate floor again

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Democratic Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware and Cory Booker of New Jersey attempted to force the vote by unanimous consent, but that meant it could be blocked by just one senator, as Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah did Wednesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has argued, as recently as Tuesday, that the bill is not necessary since he believes there is no indication President Donald Trump is moving to fire Mueller.

Flake disputed McConnell's argument in his floor speech ahead of his vote being blocked.

"Why shouldn't we be up in arms about this?" Flake said reading a few of Trump's recent tweets about Mueller. "Should we here in the Senate be okay with that? I argue no, we should not be."

"With the President tweeting on a regular basis -- a daily basis -- that the special counsel is conflicted, that he's leading so called '12 angry Democrats' and demeaning and ridiculing him every way," Flake, who is retiring at the end of his term in January, continued. "To be so sanguine about the chances of him being fired is folly for us, I believe."

In his remarks, Booker pointed to Trump's recent tweets about Mueller and his appointment of acting attorney general Matt Whitaker, a vocal critic of Mueller's investigation. In his position as acting attorney general, Whitaker now oversees the Mueller.

"We know the special counsel office is in danger," Booker said.

Coons said that he is confident if the bill were brought to a floor vote it would get the 60 votes needed to pass. He says he will continue to push for it.

Aides to the senators knew the bill would be blocked and hope this effort is about creating momentum and keeping pressure on leadership. Flake and Coons had previously tried to push such a bill shortly after Whitaker's appointment earlier this month, following the firing of then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. That bill was also blocked.

On Tuesday, Senate sources told CNN that Republicans may let the bill come up for a vote, in an effort to win over Flake who has vowed to vote against pending judicial nominations until the measure is considered by the chamber. Flake can not only slow nominations down on the floor but wield more influence as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.