While testifying before a Senate subcommittee, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein rejected the idea being floated by Trump allies of firing the special counsel by saying there is no good cause to fire Robert Mueller.
Video of Sen. Lindsey Graham questioning Rosenstein:
Sen. Lindsey Graham: Do you know of any reason for cause to fire Robert Mueller?
Rosenstein: “No, I do not.”https://t.co/T5uqoA85rO pic.twitter.com/PFJnuvFmI1— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017
Graham asked, “It’s 13 June. Sen. Lindsey Graham: Do you know of any reason for cause to fire Mueller as of this date?”
Rosenstein answered, “No, I do not, Senator.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) asked, “Have you seen good cause for firing Mueller?”
Rosenstein answered, “No, I have not.”
The Deputy Attorney General also testified that he would not follow any orders that were not lawful and appropriate. Mueller can only be fired for good cause, and that cause has to be stated in writing.
Trump’s allies are floating the idea that the President fire the special counsel in the media, but Trump can’t directly fire Mueller. What he can do is fire the Deputy Attorney General if he refuses to fire the special counsel, and then appoint a new deputy AG that would fire Mueller.
The swift reaction from Congress to the idea of firing Mueller is a warning to Trump that he should not go there, but this president seems to view warnings as challenges, so if Trump decides that he wants to be rid of Mueller, he will have to fire Rosenstein too.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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