Mueller finds an ally in U.S. Congress
Republicans, Democrats band together to head off Trump’s attempt to fire special counsel
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional Republicans moved to head off any attempt by U.S. President Donald Trump to fire special counsel Robert Mueller as the president continued to attack the Russia investigation and the Justice Department.
Two Republicans and two Democrats have consolidated their separate bills to protect Mueller into a single piece of legislation that would, according to the sponsors, ensure the special counsel can only be fired for “good cause.” It would also give the person in that role the ability to seek an expedited judicial review of any dismissal.
Judiciary committee chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa plans to put the bill on the panel’s agenda Thursday, according to spokesman George Hartmann, though it could get delayed for a week by an objection from a committee member.
That may force the hand of those Republicans who’ve insisted such legislation isn’t needed because Trump won’t go as far as dismissing Mueller, despite his heated rhetoric and public complaints.
That group includes the No. 2 Senate Republican leader John Cornyn, who also is a member of the judiciary committee. He said Wednesday he continues to view legislation to protect Mueller as unnecessary. He also questioned whether it would get past Trump’s desk.
“If it did pass, would the president sign it? I don’t think he would,” Cornyn said.
Meanwhile, Trump Wednesday warned Syria and its ally Russia, using Twitter to tell them to “get ready” for missiles that would be “nice and new and ‘smart.’ ”
There are reports President Bashar Assad has already started moving aircraft away from airbases that are likely to be targeted. Both Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have stressed the need to act swiftly to punish Syria for a purported chemical attack Saturday that killed at least 40 people.
The Daily Telegraph has learned British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered submarines to move within missile range of Syria in readiness for strikes.
Trump’s tweets appeared to be a response to earlier comments by Alexander Zasypkin, the Russian ambassador to Lebanon, who warned that : “If there is an American strike, then we ... will shoot down the missiles and target the positions from where they were launched.” Trump responded by tweeting: “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’ You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”
Trump was said to be considering a more substantial military attack than the one last year, when the bombing of a Syrian regime air field ultimately failed to stop the use of chemical weapons. The president spent the day behind closed doors in the White House, holding meetings with Defence Secretary James Mattis and Vice-President Mike Pence.
Politicians in Moscow condemned Trump’s “light-minded” tweet and warned against any damage to Russian positions in Syria. Yury Shvytkin, a member of the parliamentary committee for defence and security, said that Russia would “defend its troops” in Syria despite Trump’s “hysteria.”
— With files from The Associated Press