Protesters march in Seattle to defend Mueller investigation

Seattle marchers joined nationwide protests the day after President Trump fired Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General. Sessions' chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, will temporarily replace him.

Whitaker will now oversee the Russia investigation, which he's publicly criticized in the past.

“I’m very worried," said Nicole Lockett, waving an American flag. "With the appointment of Whitaker I think there’s a very good chance they’ll try to stifle the investigation.”

Lockett, along with hundreds of others, braved the cold Thursday night at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill, where Gov. Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal spoke.

The Seattle protest was part of a nationwide effort in the planning for months in the event that Trump fired Sessions.

Sessions had recused himself from any investigation of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. Mueller's work has been overseen by the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein.

 “This is not just about firing Jeff Sessions," Jayapal said at the protest. "It is about putting in place somebody who has already clearly demonstrated that he can’t oversee this investigation.”

Critics of the Mueller probe, including Whitaker, argue the investigation has gone too far.

But Jayapal said she defends Mueller because of results the investigation has already produced. 

 “This is no witch hunt that hasn’t produced anything," Jayapal said. "Thirty-three indicted and pleaded guilty, and five of them are Trump campaign officials."

 In a letter released Thursday, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined 17 other state attorneys general urging Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation.