Trump at crisis point on Mueller
President Trumps showdown with Robert Mueller headed toward a crisis point on Tuesday, with the White House saying Trump has legal authority to fire the special counsel.
Republicans unnerved by the presidents anger in public and private sought to talk him down, fearing a Saturday night massacre-style series of firings harking back to the Nixon era was growing more likely.
GOP lawmakers fear presidential firings of Mueller, Attorney General Jeff Sessions or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would cause chaos in Washington and dim Republican hopes of holding their congressional majorities.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) declared in a CNN interview Tuesday that it would be suicide for the president to fire him.
I have made my views public, and I hope hes listening to those of us who say it would be a mistake, said Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (Texas).
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) insisted legislation to protect Mueller was unnecessary because cooler heads would prevail.
I havent seen a clear indication yet that we needed to pass something to keep him from being removed because I dont think thats going to happen, and that remains my view, McConnell told reporters. Its still my view that Mueller should be allowed to finish his job. I think thats the view of most people in Congress.
Trumps fury at the FBIs raid on Monday on Michael Cohen, his personal lawyer, has triggered the latest crisis surrounding the Mueller probe.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/382586-trump-at-crisis-point-on-mueller