Republicans warn Trump not to fire Mueller

President is told by senior party officials that sacking the special counsel would be political ‘suicide’

US Editor SENIOR Republicans yesterday told Donald Trump he would be committing political “suicide” by sacking Robert Mueller as the president escalated his attacks on the special counsel.

Senators from Mr Trump’s own party said that a majority of congressmen believe Mr Mueller should be allowed to continue his Russia investigation without political interference. They also discussed whether the US Congress should pass a law forcing the Trump administration to prove there was just cause should Mr Mueller be dismissed.

Richard Nixon’s firing of an independent special prosecutor when president is seen to have sped up impeachment proceedings against him.

The warnings came as Mr Trump continued a rhetorical assault on Mr Mueller’s investigation after his longterm personal lawyer Michael Cohen had his office and residence raided.

Mr Trump tweeted that “attorney– client privilege is dead!” and added, in apparent reference to the developments: “A total witch hunt!!!”

The New York Times reported yesterday that the raids on Mr Cohen were “related to two women who claim they had affairs with Mr Trump”.

On Monday, the president declined to rule out sacking Mr Mueller, saying “we’ll see what happens” and adding that “many people” said he should have him dismissed. Previously Mr Trump had agreed Mr Mueller would be crossing a “red line” by investigating the president’s business affairs before taking office. The White House said yesterday that Mr Trump believes he has the power to dismiss Mr Mueller.

Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, said: “I think it would be suicide for the president to fire [Mueller]. I think the less the president says about this whole thing, the better off he will be. I think that Mueller is a person of stature and respected and I respect him.” Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator for South Carolina and a regular golf partner of Mr Trump, said that Mr Mueller was “well respected” and doing a “professional” job.

The comments contrast markedly with Mr Trump, who repeatedly used the word “disgrace” as he reacted to news that Mr Cohen’s office had been raided. Sources close to Mr Trump told the news website Axios said that the raid on Mr Cohen was a “giant leap forward” and is being seen as a “personal hit” on the president.

Mr Cohen paid Stormy Daniels, the porn star who has alleged she had an affair with Mr Trump, $130,000 (£106,000) days before the 2016 election. Mr Trump has denied knowledge of the payment and the White House has denied Ms Daniels’s claims. Ms Daniels has also previously signed statements denying the affair.

Mr Mueller passed on information that helped lead to the raid on Mr Cohen’s office, according to Mr Cohen’s attorney, but the development is not directly linked to his investigation.

Mr Trump cannot fire Mr Mueller himself, but can order Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, to do so.