TRUMP MAY TRY TO ‘TERMINATE’ SPECIAL COUNSEL

WASHINGTON High-profile supporters of Donald Trump have begun attacking the independent investigator looking into the Russia affair, raising the question of whether the president could indeed attempt to fire him.

The sound of sharpening knives echoed everywhere Monday. Several Trumpsupporting media figures called for Robert Mueller to be fired; a Trump friend said the president was actually considering it; a Trump lawyer wouldn’t rule it out; a conservative newspaper suggested Mueller faces a conflict of interest; and a top Trump surrogate accused him of partisan bias.

A Trump friend who was spotted visiting the White House on Monday later told a PBS interviewer that the president was indeed mulling over firing Mueller. Online news mogul Chris Ruddy said: “I think he’s considering perhaps terminating the special counsel. I think he’s weighing that option.”

Newt Gingrich, who is close to Trump, tweeted: “Republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair. Look who he is hiring. Check (political donation) reports. Time to rethink.”

Under current Justice Department regulations, any such firing of Mueller would have to be done by Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ deputy, Rod Rosenstein — though those regulations could theoretically be set aside.