GOPers Wave Off Trump's Escalating Threats To Mueller And Rosenstein

By Alice Ollstein | April 11, 2018 6:00 am

Congressional Republicans returned Tuesday from a two-week recess to President Trump fuming about a raid on his personal attorney’s office and new reports that he will move to terminate the Russia investigation by firing either Special Counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

A small handful of lawmakers are attempting to revive sidelined legislation that would protect Mueller from Trump. But just hours before reports came to light that Trump sought to fire Mueller in December, most GOP senators were shrugging the matter off entirely, insisting the President’s angry words were just words.

Democrats, though they don’t have the power to call hearings or to bring bills to floor, are attempting to create a sense of urgency on Capitol Hill and spur their GOP colleagues to action, warning that firing either Mueller or Rosenstein would be an impeachable offense.

Despite Trump’s screed Monday evening and Tuesday morning calling the FBI raid an “attack on our country” and a “total witch hunt,” and despite the White House press secretary declaring from the podium Tuesday that Trump does have the power to fire the special counsel, most Republican senators told reporters Tuesday that no legislation is needed to shield Mueller from Trump’s wrath, and confirmed to TPM that the issue did not even come up at their weekly party luncheon.

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