Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly (Va.) said Thursday that his constituents regularly bring up Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation when they see him at town halls and on the street.
Connolly represents Virginia's 11th congressional district, which covers a portion of Northern Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C., and he reported that his constituents want him to pass a law protecting Mueller from being fired.
"In town hall meetings, comes up all the time. When I'm out in the street, it comes up," Connolly said of Mueller’s investigation.
President Donald Trump has dismissed allegations that he conspired with Russia during the 2016 election, but speculation has persisted and Democratic opponents have accused him of interfering in Mueller's investigation.
Connolly said people tell him, "I hope you're going to protect the country; I hope you're not going to let Trump interfere with that investigation."
His comments came after CNN host Kate Bolduan asked if he agreed with Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Pa.), who earlier said Democrats should talk about other issues beyond the Russia investigation because constituents care more about them.
"I spend most of my time talking about what I'm actually working on," Boyle said. "Health care, raising living standards, opposing extreme legislation from this majority—I think as Democrats, the more we talk about those issues, the better we'll do this November."
Connolly said this did not match his experience since northern Virginians living near D.C. care a great deal about Mueller's investigation.
"Certainly in my district in northern Virginia, the Russia investigation, the possibility of extensive Russian interference with our election is a topic of paramount importance," he said. "Not something I run away from, not something I want to avoid, nor is it something my constituents avoid. They bring it up."
The media on Thursday reported extensively on Mueller's investigation reaching its one-year anniversary, and Trump tweeted again that it was a "witch hunt" and accused the FBI in the Obama administration of spying on his campaign.