Aaron Bernstein
Pittsburgh police chiefs ordered detectives to bring riot gear to work Thursday in anticipation of protests that may erupt should President Donald Trump fire special counsel Robert Mueller. In an email obtained by local media, Cmdr. Victor Joseph ordered major-crimes detectives to bring in full riot gear “until further notice” because “there is a belief” Mueller may be fired, provoking “large-scale” protests in the city. “The protest would be semi-spontaneous and more than likely happen on short notice,” the leaked memo states. “Based on this information, beginning tomorrow, April 19, 2018, all Major Crimes detectives are required to bring a full uniform and any issued protective equipment (riot gear) with them to work until further notice.” Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich later said the move was precautionary and it had no knowledge of the president’s intentions in regard to Mueller. Trump downplayed the chances of him firing Mueller, saying Wednesday: “They’ve been saying I’m going to get rid of them for the last three months, four months, five months, and they’re still here.”