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.
SCOTT PELLEY: Well, after Comey was sacked, the Justice Department named former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to independently investigate the Russian Federation case.
Trump's tweet that he's being investigated "by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director" may refer to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
And a person familiar with Trump's thinking said Tuesday morning that it's "unlikely" the President will fire Mueller, but conceded that it's often hard to predict Trump's behavior. He lashed out at a top Justice Department official overseeing the inquiry, reflecting his mounting frustration with the unrelenting controversy that has consumed his early presidency.
Ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee Mark Warner told reporters that Mr Mueller had briefed senators Wednesday on his work.
"The White House is now a crime scene", Mr Abramson posted on Twitter.
Christopher Ruddy, CEO of the conservative online media outlet Newsmax and a frequent, if unofficial, Trump spokesperson visited the White House on Monday afternoon. She said, "I can definitively say the president is not a liar, and I think it's frankly insulting it is asked". The White House clarification has come amidst reports that Trump is contemplating firing Mueller.
"Trump likely will become more unhinged as headlines dog him day after day, a parade of witnesses troop in to talk to the special counsel and the investigation metastasizes ..."
"Although Ruddy said he thinks" it would be a very significant mistake", he claimed that there wasn't a justification for a special counsel.
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He said there is "absolutely evidence to begin a case" of obstruction of justice against Trump based on Comey's testimony. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is in for sharp questioning on Tuesday by senators on the Senate intelligence committee.
"When I chose to just do it, I said to myself - I said, you know, this Russian Federation thing with Trump and Russian Federation is a made-up story", Trump told Lester Holt of NBC News in an interview broadcast May 11. Ruddy agreed, but noted that the White House statement never denied what he said was true.
The order from the general counsel for the transition team casts a wide net on documents that could shed light on ties between Trump's presidential campaign and representatives of Russia's government.
"I think Congress should now intervene and they should abolish the independent counsel", the former House speaker said.
Under Justice Department regulations created to ensure a measure of independence for the special counsel, Rosenstein may only fire Mueller for "good cause".
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Thursday suggested that Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich was no longer relevant after he attacked the credibility of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Just weeks ago, Gingrich had heaped praise on Mueller, hailing him as a "superb choice" for special counsel whose reputation was "impeccable for honesty and integrity".
Burr told CNN they had a "good meeting" with Mueller. Sessions recused himself from Trump campaign-related investigations in February. If Mueller is mostly left alone, that is probably what we will get.
The official, who would not detail what the two discussed during the interview, said it took place on May 16.
The White House has directed questions for details to outside legal counsel, which has not responded.
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