Senate Democrats seek to protect Mueller from firing

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats said on Friday that they would seek to ensure continuing budget negotiations included legislation to protect Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the Russia investigation, from being fired by President Donald Trump.

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the top Democrat in the Senate, said an article in The New York Times this week detailing an effort by Trump to fire Mueller in June demonstrated the urgency for Congress to act.

“The most important thing Congress can do right now is to ensure that Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation continues uninterrupted and unimpeded,” Schumer said.

The move by the Democratic leadership escalates previous efforts by lawmakers in both parties to stave off a possible constitutional crisis should Trump try to shut down the Russia investigation by getting rid of Mueller. Over the summer, members of the parties introduced legislation to prevent that from happening.

The legislation went nowhere as the president, his lawyers and his top aides denied that he had ever considered firing Mueller. But bipartisan outrage has been rekindled by the news that Trump ordered the dismissal of Mueller, backtracking only after Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, said he would resign rather than carry out the order.

The latest Democratic efforts would require cooperation from Republicans as both parties negotiate over must-pass legislation to fund the government. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Friday he could not think of any reason “why you wouldn’t want to pass that legislation if you respect the rule of law.” The deadline for passing the spending plan is Feb. 8.

In August, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., proposed legislation that would require a Senateconfirmed official at the Justice Department to discipline or fire a special counsel. Another measure, sponsored in part by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would require a judge’s review to ensure a special counsel is fired for cause and not for political reasons.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., reiterated Friday that Republicans in the House would oppose any attempt by Trump to fire Mueller. “It would just be a political firestorm, and you would just be presumed guilty whether you are or not,” said Cole.

Trump denied Friday that he had ordered Mueller’s firing and called reports of the episode “fake news.” The Times report was based on four people who were told of the matter.