GOP lawmakers offered a muted response on Sunday to the prospect of President Donald Trump pushing for the removal of special counsel Robert Mueller as head of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The questions came on the heels of Attorney General Jeff Sessions firing of FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe on Friday, less than two days before McCabe was set to retire with full benefits. Most Republicans have opted not to weigh in on McCabes firing.
Trumps attorney, John Dowd, on Saturday followed up on the move by urging the Justice Department to immediately end the special counsel probe , leading many to speculate that Muellers job could be the next one in peril.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) didnt appear to share those concerns during a Sunday interview on NBCs Meet the Press. Rubio offered cursory support for Mueller, while advising him against expanding the probe too widely.
Rubio expressed hope that the investigation is going to arrive at the truth and is not going to go down rabbit holes that are not places that we need to be going.
Some Republicans have cried foul at news that Muellers investigation has begun to look into Trumps personal business ties to Russia, a move that has included a subpoena of the Trump Organization .
Advertisement
Mueller has also requested documents pertaining to the Trump campaigns correspondence with data firm Cambridge Analytica, which ran the data operations for his White House bid and reportedly violated policies protecting the privacy of Facebook users.
Sen. @MarcoRubio on the Mueller investigation: I remain confident that the Special Counsel is going to conduct a probe that is fair and thorough and is going to arrive at the truth and is not going to go down rabbit holes that are not places that we need to be going. #MTP
Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) March 18, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Chuck Todd","author_url":"https://twitter.com/chucktodd","cache_age":86400,"description":"Sen. @MarcoRubio on the Mueller investigation: I remain confident that the Special Counsel is going to conduct a probe that is fair and thorough and is going to arrive at the truth and is not going to go down rabbit holes that are not places that we need to be going. #MTP Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) March 18, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Chuck Todd on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/chucktodd/status/975358825237827586","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/republicans-mueller-firing_n_5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","entryTagsList":"white-house,marco-rubio,politics-and-government,robert-mueller,lindsey-graham,rand-paul,jeff-flake,republican-party-united-states,andrew-mccabe,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"White House","slug":"white-house","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/white-house","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/white-house","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/white-house"},"relegenceId":3698131,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"White House","slug":"white-house","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/white-house"},{"name":"Marco Rubio","slug":"marco-rubio","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/marco-rubio","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/marco-rubio","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/marco-rubio"},"relegenceId":3892019,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Marco Rubio","slug":"marco-rubio","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/marco-rubio"},{"name":"Politics and Government","slug":"politics-and-government","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/politics-and-government","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/politics-and-government","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/politics-and-government"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Politics and Government","slug":"politics-and-government","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/politics-and-government"},{"name":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/robert-mueller","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller"},"relegenceId":3628965,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/robert-mueller"},{"name":"Lindsey Graham","slug":"lindsey-graham","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lindsey-graham","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lindsey-graham","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lindsey-graham"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Lindsey Graham","slug":"lindsey-graham","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/lindsey-graham"},{"name":"Rand Paul","slug":"rand-paul","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/rand-paul","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/rand-paul","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/rand-paul"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Rand Paul","slug":"rand-paul","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/rand-paul"},{"name":"jeff flake","slug":"jeff-flake","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/jeff-flake","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake"},{"name":"Republican Party United States","slug":"republican-party-united-states","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/republican-party-united-states","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-party-united-states","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-party-united-states"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Republican Party","slug":"republican-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/republican-party"},{"name":"andrew mccabe","slug":"andrew-mccabe","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/andrew-mccabe","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">Sen. @MarcoRubio on the Mueller investigation: I remain confident that the Special Counsel is going to conduct a probe that is fair and thorough and is going to arrive at the truth and is not going to go down rabbit holes that are not places that we need to be going. #MTP
Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) March 18, 2018
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) similarly downplayed the alarm over Muellers potential sacking, calling Dowds statement not different than what an attorney does typically.
Advertisement
In an interview on ABCs This Week, the senator maintained that Trump would not have Mueller fired because the White House wants him to be able to finish the investigation.
But he also echoed Trumps criticism of the composition of Muellers team, calling it odd that the former FBI chief had selected a number of Democrats .
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), appearing on CNN s State of the Union program, seemed even less perturbed by the prospect of Muellers firing.
When @jaketapper asks if he would be bothered if Trump fired Robert Mueller, Rand Paul says he wouldnt advocate for it.
Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 18, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Kaitlan Collins","author_url":"https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins","cache_age":86400,"description":"When @jaketapper asks if he would be bothered if Trump fired Robert Mueller, Rand Paul says he wouldnt advocate for it. Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 18, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Kaitlan Collins on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/975360983261696000","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/republicans-mueller-firing_n_5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","entryTagsList":"white-house,marco-rubio,politics-and-government,robert-mueller,lindsey-graham,rand-paul,jeff-flake,republican-party-united-states,andrew-mccabe,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"White House","slug":"white-house","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/white-house","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/white-house","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/white-house"},"relegenceId":3698131,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"White House","slug":"white-house","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/white-house"},{"name":"Marco Rubio","slug":"marco-rubio","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/marco-rubio","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/marco-rubio","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/marco-rubio"},"relegenceId":3892019,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Marco Rubio","slug":"marco-rubio","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/marco-rubio"},{"name":"Politics and Government","slug":"politics-and-government","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/politics-and-government","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/politics-and-government","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/politics-and-government"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Politics and Government","slug":"politics-and-government","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/politics-and-government"},{"name":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/robert-mueller","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller"},"relegenceId":3628965,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/robert-mueller"},{"name":"Lindsey Graham","slug":"lindsey-graham","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lindsey-graham","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lindsey-graham","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lindsey-graham"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Lindsey Graham","slug":"lindsey-graham","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/lindsey-graham"},{"name":"Rand Paul","slug":"rand-paul","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/rand-paul","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/rand-paul","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/rand-paul"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Rand Paul","slug":"rand-paul","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/rand-paul"},{"name":"jeff flake","slug":"jeff-flake","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/jeff-flake","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake"},{"name":"Republican Party United States","slug":"republican-party-united-states","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/republican-party-united-states","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-party-united-states","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-party-united-states"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Republican Party","slug":"republican-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/republican-party"},{"name":"andrew mccabe","slug":"andrew-mccabe","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/andrew-mccabe","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">When @jaketapper asks if he would be bothered if Trump fired Robert Mueller, Rand Paul says he wouldnt advocate for it.
Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 18, 2018
Advertisement
On the same show, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) offered a markedly different response, suggesting that if Trump pushed to remove Mueller, it would spur impeachment proceedings.
Lindsey Graham reiterates this to Trump when asked by @jaketapper about the potential firing of Mueller. If he tried to do that, that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency. We are a rule-of-laws nation.
Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 18, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Manu Raju","author_url":"https://twitter.com/mkraju","cache_age":86400,"description":"Lindsey Graham reiterates this to Trump when asked by @jaketapper about the potential firing of Mueller. If he tried to do that, that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency. We are a rule-of-laws nation. Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 18, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Manu Raju on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/975365338815717376","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/republicans-mueller-firing_n_5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","entryTagsList":"white-house,marco-rubio,politics-and-government,robert-mueller,lindsey-graham,rand-paul,jeff-flake,republican-party-united-states,andrew-mccabe,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5aae6cace4b0c33361b14366","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"White House","slug":"white-house","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/white-house","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/white-house","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/white-house"},"relegenceId":3698131,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"White House","slug":"white-house","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/white-house"},{"name":"Marco Rubio","slug":"marco-rubio","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/marco-rubio","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/marco-rubio","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/marco-rubio"},"relegenceId":3892019,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Marco Rubio","slug":"marco-rubio","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/marco-rubio"},{"name":"Politics and Government","slug":"politics-and-government","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/politics-and-government","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/politics-and-government","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/politics-and-government"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Politics and Government","slug":"politics-and-government","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/politics-and-government"},{"name":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/robert-mueller","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/robert-mueller"},"relegenceId":3628965,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Robert Mueller","slug":"robert-mueller","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/robert-mueller"},{"name":"Lindsey Graham","slug":"lindsey-graham","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lindsey-graham","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lindsey-graham","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lindsey-graham"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Lindsey Graham","slug":"lindsey-graham","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/lindsey-graham"},{"name":"Rand Paul","slug":"rand-paul","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/rand-paul","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/rand-paul","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/rand-paul"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Rand Paul","slug":"rand-paul","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/rand-paul"},{"name":"jeff flake","slug":"jeff-flake","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/jeff-flake","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/jeff-flake"},{"name":"Republican Party United States","slug":"republican-party-united-states","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/republican-party-united-states","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-party-united-states","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-party-united-states"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Republican Party","slug":"republican-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/republican-party"},{"name":"andrew mccabe","slug":"andrew-mccabe","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/andrew-mccabe","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/andrew-mccabe"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">Lindsey Graham reiterates this to Trump when asked by @jaketapper about the potential firing of Mueller. If he tried to do that, that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency. We are a rule-of-laws nation.
Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 18, 2018
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a persistent Trump critic, shared Grahams view. He said on State of the Union that some of his Republican colleagues had told him theyd treat Muellers firing as a massive red line that cant be crossed.
Democrats warned that any move to undercut the special counsel probe would serve as a threat to democracy.
Advertisement
This would undoubtedly result in a constitutional crisis, and I think Democrats and Republicans need to speak out about this right now, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on This Week. Members need to speak out now, dont wait for the crisis.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) issued a similar statement, accusing Trump of floating trial balloons about derailing the Mueller investigation,
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Our Republican colleagues, particularly the leadership, have an obligation to our country to stand up now and make it clear that firing Mueller is a red line for our democracy that cannot be crossed, Schumer said.
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
_(720p).jpg)
 OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO.jpg)
.jpg)
