McConnell Says He Sees No Need to Act to Protect Mueller
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he sees no need to act to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation -- and declined to say how Republicans would react if President Donald Trump tries to fire Mueller.
"My understanding is there’s no effort under way to undermine or remove the special counsel," McConnell of Kentucky told reporters. "Therefore I don’t see any need to bring up legislation to protect someone who appears to need no protection."
McConnell declined to say what Republicans would do if Trump sought to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein or Mueller, despite reports Trump has discussed both possibilities.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told reporters earlier Tuesday he would "push hard" for legislation to protect Mueller, but said Republicans have resisted.
"I’m really appalled by our Republican colleagues in reference to this," Schumer said. He said the GOP has long defended the FBI and “they seem to have flipped. They remind me of a movie, ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ They’re just not saying a thing."