Republicans back Robert Mueller, say there's no rush to shield him from Trump


On Sunday, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on TV they would favor passing legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from President Trump but saw no need to do so now, even after reports that Trump sought to fire Mueller last summer and backed down. "It's pretty clear to me that everybody in the White House knows it would be the end of President Trump's presidency if he fired Mr. Mueller," Graham said on ABC's This Week, while Collins told CNN "it would certainly not hurt to put that extra safeguard in place, given the latest stories." House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was more dismissive of the idea. "Right now there's not an issue," he told NBC's Meet the Press. "So why create one when there isn't a place for it?"
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), on the other hand, said it's time to act. "The most important thing Congress can do right now is to ensure that Special Counsel Mueller's investigation continues uninterrupted and unimpeded," he said. Not all Democrats were on board, however. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said it would be "premature for us to go down that road," confusing NBC's Chuck Todd by suggesting that Trump's threats to fire Mueller were just "New York talk" and "New York language." Mueller got a solid vote of confidence from Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), though.
Trump "has a fair investigator" in Mueller, Gowdy told Fox News' Chris Wallace. "The last time you and I were together, I told my Republican colleagues, leave him the hell alone, and that's still my advice."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'