Trump mulls firing dy attorney general

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump was so incensed by the FBI’S raid of his personal attorney’s office and hotel room that he has pondered firing deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein in order to rein in special counsel Robert Mueller.

The raid, in which agents seized attorney Michael Cohen’s records on topics including a $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels who alleges she had sex with Trump, left him more angry than advisers had seen him in weeks, according to five people familiar with the president’s views.

Asked if Trump had considered firing Sessions, Rosenstein or Mueller in the past 26 hours, White House press secretary Sarah Sander said she couldn’t say as she hadn’t had that conver- sation with him.

But, she added, Trump believes he has the power to fire Mueller.

Trump has considered firing Mueller in the past and came close to it last December, according to reports.

Trump has been extremely unhappy with the top leadership of the justice department and has time and again publically rebuked attorney general Jeff Sessions.

Trump also expressed confidence in the loyalty displayed by Cohen, his longtime personal and professional fixer, who ascended to one of the most powerful roles at the Trump Organization not filled by a family member.

Cohen has steadfastly denied wrongdoing in his $130,000 payment Daniels and has publicly defended Trump, but he has confided in associates that he is fearful of being a fall guy.

MUELLER THREATENED?

Any official who ensured Mueller’s firing would likely be the one deciding how vigorously to continue the Russia probe

Congress would still have the power to subpoena documents from the justice department, but congressional committees lack any prosecutorial power Congressional oversight and state prosecutions pale compared to the force of federal efforts to prosecute