He said he would agree to dismiss Mueller only if there were a legitimate basis to do so, and an order from the president would not necessarily qualify.
The special counsel, who has moved quickly to take full control of the investigation, is reportedly interviewing what the Post described as "senior intelligence officials" as part of what suddenly also is an obstruction of justice investigation.
In a February meeting, Comey said, Trump told Sessions and other administration officials to leave the room before asking him to drop a probe into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's contacts with Russian Federation. Doubt, however, has been cast on that explanation because of cryptic testimony from former FBI Director James Comey last week.
At a separate hearing Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein declared he'd seen no basis for dismissing Mueller, the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director he appointed as special counsel after Sessions' recusal.
The hallelujas were led by Mike Pence, who said "it is the greatest privilege of my life to serve as vice president", and it was topped by chief of staff Reince Priebus, who thanked the President "for the opportunity and blessing you've given us to serve your agenda and the American people". Comey was sacked May 9.
Former FBI Director James Comey told Congress last week he believes he was sacked by Trump to undermine the agency's Russian Federation probe.
Graham also asked him if it would be a disqualifier to have worked for Hillary Clinton, who ran against President Donald Trump in the election and was a subject of a separate Justice Department investigation into her email practices.
Coats was attending a briefing at the White House together with officials from several other government agencies. "I have confidence in Mr. Mueller", he said.
Comey testified before the Senate that he had in fact told Trump that the president was not specifically under investigation, confirming Trump's claims that he had done so.
Special counsel is investigating Trump
And I think, frankly, our story shows that the president is by no means out of the woods as far as the investigation goes. The Justice Department has maintained that it would be inappropriate to indict a sitting president.
The news is also more likely to push Trump toward forcing Mueller out as he continues to look for a way to lift the cloud of the Russian Federation scandal that has hovered over the White House since he took office.
"The FBI leak of information regarding the President is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal", said Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Kasowitz.
The apparent obstruction probe immediately conjures memories of the Watergate scandal.
After President Donald Trump's friend, Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, said Monday night that Trump is considering firing Mueller, Rosenstein said Mueller can "only be fired for good cause", and it would be his job to put that good cause into writing.
Trump would either have to order deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein to fire Mueller, or alternatively, repeal a set of 18-year-old regulations protecting the special counsel.
Technically, Trump can't fire Mueller, as it would normally be the decision of the attorney general. Pence's office confirmed he had retained Richard Cullen, a former Virginia attorney general and US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to assist "in responding to inquiries" from Mueller.
Justice Department Deputy Solicitor General Michael Dreeben donated in 2008 to a political action committee for then-Democratic presidential candidate as well as a PAC for in 2006.
The Saturday Night Massacre "released a firestorm of protest, with almost a half million telegrams bombarding the White House in one week", according to the White House Historical Association.
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