Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Monday for questioning whether former FBI Director Robert Mueller can lead the Russia investigation.
Gingrich did an about-face on Monday by saying it was “time to rethink” Mueller’s role in the investigation, just weeks after saying he was a “superb choice” soon after his appointment as special counsel.
“The hard right is trying to discredit him in advance,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “They know they can’t debate the facts or the issues or defend the actions of the White House on the merits, so what do they do? They attack the referee and try to besmirch the reputation of someone like Mr. Mueller.”
“Mueller’s a man of integrity. That’s agreed to by just about everybody,” Schumer said. He also cited comments made by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said that Mueller’s “integrity is undoubted.”
“Now the political right has pulled out their partisan knives to try to defame his reputation. It’s a shameful, shameful ploy,” Schumer said. “The right must be afraid of what Mr. Mueller’s going to find. I’d ask Speaker Gingrich a question — is he afraid of what Mr. Mueller’s going to find out? Is that why he’s attacking his reputation? Baseless attacks on former Director Mueller ring hollow.”
The remarks from both come days after former FBI Director James Comey admitted to sharing a memo detailing a dinner with President Trump with a friend with the intention of distributing it to the media, which has been seized upon by Republicans in an effort to hit Comey. Trump himself criticized Comey in a tweet.
“I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very ‘cowardly!'” Trump said.
