Senate committee could vote to protect special counsel

The Republican head of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Wednesday he is ready to call for a vote on legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from being fired.

The decision by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, comes as Republican leaders say the bill is unnecessary.

Under the bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, Mueller could only be fired for misconduct or other “good cause” and his ouster could be carried out only by the attorney general or another Senateconfirmed Justice Department official.