Senate Democrats appear to be ramping up discussions about what they could do were President Trump to fire special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
“It’s a topic of continuing conversation,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. “There have been conversations ongoing all day.”
Rosenstein is the highest-ranked Justice Department official with jurisdiction over the Russia probe since Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself. Rosenstein tapped Mueller to serve as special counsel overseeing the investigation.
Blumenthal said “there seems to be rising concern” among his Republican colleagues that Trump might move to fire Mueller or Rosenstein, “but not yet at the level that may be necessary” to move legislation to shield the special counsel.
The New York Times reported that a small group of top Senate Democrats met with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Tuesday to “discuss hypotheticals related to Mueller and Rosenstein.”
Blumenthal wouldn’t share specifics about the “variety of tools” Democrats are exploring should Mueller be fired, but said Democrats are “actively considering” options.
Leadership aides did not comment when asked about the meeting. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said she didn’t want to comment when asked about the meeting.
At his weekly press briefing, Schumer dodged a question on whether he thought firing Mueller would be an impeachable offense, instead saying he hoped it could be avoided.
