Two top Democrats on key congressional committees investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election blasted President Trump over reports that he tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.
“Justice Department regulations still prohibit the firing of Special Counsel Mueller without good cause, and to do so would be a fundamental violation of the rule of law,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in a statement.
Feinstein, the ranking member of Senate Judiciary Committee, said it is “unfortunate” that Trump “doesn’t respect the law or the Constitution,” and threatened that Congress would take action should he fire Mueller.
Trump cannot directly fire Mueller. He must order Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to do so. Rosenstein appointed Mueller special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the probe.
The New York Times reported that Trump ordered the firing of Mueller in June and White House general counsel Don McGahn objected because he “disagreed with the President’s case and told senior White House officials that firing Mr. Mueller would have a catastrophic effect on Mr. Trump’s presidency.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee said the Trump-Mueller report demonstrates “the Nixonian lengths this president is prepared to go to protect himself.”
Schiff called on Congress to “make clear” that any effort to remove Mueller or impede his work is not acceptable, and that “would imperil this presidency.”
Schiff also blasted Republican lawmakers for what he said are “spurious attacks” against Mueller, the Department of Justice and the FBI.
