Updated at 6:13 p.m.
Senate Republicans were surprised to learn Wednesday that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, plans to try to advance legislation that would prevent President Trump from firing special counsel Robert Mueller.
A bipartisan group of four senators on Wednesday introduced a bill that would specifically prevent Trump from firing Mueller, whose investigation the president has labeled a “witch hunt.”
The bill would, among other things, “ensure that the Special Counsel can only be fired for good cause by a senior Justice Department official, and the reason must be provided in writing.” Some believe that only Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein can fire Mueller, but the White House said Tuesday it believes Trump can fire Mueller directly.
Grassley, according to some lawmakers, had planned to advance the bill in the Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
However, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member on the committee, said later in the day she spoke with Grassley and he agreed to hold off placing the bill on the panel’s calendar until next week because she was concerned about “an amendment we haven’t been able to review that could undermine the investigation.”
If the measure wins the approval of a majority of the panel, which is possible since all Democrats will likely back it, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will decide whether to bring it to the Senate floor for a vote.
His spokesman declined to say how McConnell would respond other than to point to past statements. McConnell has said repeatedly, including on Tuesday, that he does not see a reason for a bill protecting Mueller because he believes Trump will not move to fire him.
“I haven’t seen clear indication yet that we needed to pass something to keep him from being removed,” McConnell said Tuesday.
“Because I don’t think that’s going to happen, and that remains my view, that I don’t think he’s going to be removed from this office,” he added. “He shouldn’t be removed from the office, should be allowed to finish the job.”
Most Republican lawmakers, including moderate Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, have said they agree with McConnell, and some, including Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., say such a measure would violate the Constitution because it would step on the president’s authority to fire anyone who serves in the executive branch.
But advancing the measure could be a way to send a warning to Trump, who left open the possibility when reporters asked him about firing Mueller after his personal attorney’s law office was raided this week.
[Related: The White House thinks Trump can fire Robert Mueller. Washington wonders if he will]
