A longtime confidante of Donald Trump said in a television interview last night that the U.S. president was considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller, who is now leading the FBI's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
A top US Justice Department official today denied rumored plans to sack Robert Mueller, the special counsel running the probe into Russia's election meddling, amid reports President Donald Trump wants him fired.
When asked what he would do if the president ordered him to fire Mueller, Rosenstein replied, "I'm not going to follow any orders unless I believe those are lawful and appropriate orders".
For his part, the Deputy Attorney General who made the call on appointing a special counsel (after Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russian Federation matter) told Senators today that he saw absolutely no reason to terminate Mueller.
During the Senate committee hearing, Rosenstein made it clear that he is the only person who has the authority fire Mueller since Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russian probe.
Now, Trump could order Rosenstein to fire Mueller.
Rosenstein handed the reigns of the investigation over to Mueller last month not long after Trump abruptly fired FBI director James Comey, cutting short his 10-year term. Brian Schatz about the scope of Sessions' recusal, Rosenstein said Sessions "actually does not know what we're investigating, and I'm not going to be talking about it publicly".
"I think he's considering perhaps terminating the special counsel", Christopher Ruddy, a longtime Trump friend, said during an interview on PBS's Newshour.
Ruddy had been at the White House the same day, though White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he did not meet with the president.
"There's no debate that's going on here", Ryan said after a reporter asked about suggestions from Trump friends Ruddy and Newt Gingrich that Mueller could be axed.
London Grenfell Tower Fire: Apartment building engulfed in flames in West London
Officials have not yet confirmed if anyone is trapped inside the building or if there has been any fatalities. The London Ambulance Service said the 15 were taken to hospitals.
White House officials sought to downplay Ruddy's comments.
Surely the president knows that firing the special counsel without an absolutely valid, ironclad reason would blow up in his face. But after the testimony of the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey to a Senate committee last week, Gingrich said he had changed his mind. "I think he's weighing that option".
Vega seemed to scoff at the Trump administration's defense when they said Ruddy didn't speak with Trump, which was something Ruddy corroborated on MSNBC.
"No, I have not", he said.
Spicer, the spokesman, declined to say then that Sessions enjoyed Trump's confidence, though spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said later in the week that the president had confidence "in all of his Cabinet".
Rep. Mark Walker said Mueller is broadly respected by both Republicans and Democrats, although he noted that the respect isn't set in stone. "I think there's a conflict there".
The startling assertion on Monday came as some of Mr Trump's conservative allies, who initially praised Mr Mueller's selection as special counsel, have begun trying to attack his credibility.
RUDDY: I already said I'm not going to reveal who my sources are, but that I felt confident in saying it.
The tweet from Conway came after the Trump White House had to put out a fire caused by Trump confidant Chris Ruddy.
Comments