Other views: ‘I don’t think there’s a need for legislation’
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.,
on NBC’s Meet the Press: “The president and his staff have fully cooperated. That’s where they’re moving forward. And I think we’ll just continue this investigation to see where it goes. … I think we should focus on the budget because the military needs their funding. Why are we playing other games with something else? Let’s take the issue that is right before us. He’s cooperating right now. … I don’t think there’s a need for legislation right now to protect (special counsel Robert) Mueller. … If there’s an issue that arrives, we’ll take it up at that time. But right now there is not an issue. So why create one?”
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.,
also on Meet the Press: “You have a person who’s the president of the United States that has been totally in control of his life, personally and professionally. He (has) been very successful. He’s been able basically to either do things incentive-wise through checks, bonuses, money or organization or organization changes, things of this sort. He’s had total control. Now, all of a sudden he’s understanding there’s equal branches and there’s equal powers. But also there (are) checks and balances. He’s having a hard time with that. Hopefully I think that’ll all come. ... Let’s see if he moves on (Deputy Attorney General Rod) Rosenstein. … I think at that time there’ll be Democrats and Republicans saying, ‘Time to protect the judicial system and the three branches of government having equal power.’ Absolutely.”
Daniel Hemel and Eric Posner,
The New York Times: “Senators introduced two bipartisan bills to block President Trump from firing Robert Mueller, the special counsel in the Russian election tampering investigation. Both bills mean well, but both miss the mark. … A better bill would provide Mr. Mueller with more than just protection against removal. At a minimum, it would require the attorney general (or the deputy attorney general in the event of recusal) to inform the House and Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen and ranking members immediately if (the president) interferes with a specialcounsel investigation.”