Deputy Attorney General: Donald Trump can't fire special counsel Robert Mueller
No 2 official at US Justice Department told Congress that Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russia's alleged interference in 2016 US presidential election, will have "the full degree of independence" he needs.
Amid reports that US President Donald Trump was considering firing the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigations, a senior Justice Department official said that he - and not the President - is the only official empowered to dismiss the prosecutor and that he sees no reason to do so.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the No 2 official at Justice, also promised on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time) that the special counsel, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, would have the independence to pursue the investigation as he saw fit.
On Monday (Tuesday NZT), Christopher Ruddy, a longtime Trump friend, said in an interview on PBS that he had just come from the White House and that the president was "considering, perhaps, terminating the special counsel."
Deputy US Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (left) testifies as Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats listens at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on June 7.
Firing Mueller after a month in the post would be an explosive political step and inevitably raise concerns that the president was trying to obstruct an investigation affecting the White House.
Amid reports that US President Donald Trump was considering firing the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigations, a senior Justice Department official said that he - and not the President - is the only official empowered to dismiss the prosecutor and that he sees no reason to do so.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the No 2 official at Justice, also promised on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time) that the special counsel, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, would have the independence to pursue the investigation as he saw fit.
On Monday (Tuesday NZT), Christopher Ruddy, a longtime Trump friend, said in an interview on PBS that he had just come from the White House and that the president was "considering, perhaps, terminating the special counsel."
Deputy US Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (left) testifies as Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats listens at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on June 7.
Firing Mueller after a month in the post would be an explosive political step and inevitably raise concerns that the president was trying to obstruct an investigation affecting the White House.
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