Trump, aides ramp up calls for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to end Russia probe
WASHINGTON — Even as President Trump decides whether or not to testify in the Russia investigation, he and aides are stepping up their calls for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to end the probe that has shadowed the entire administration.
In his latest salvo on Twitter, Trump on Wednesday cited claims by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz that a special counsel should not have been appointed in the first place.
“There was no probable cause for believing that there was any crime, collusion or otherwise, or obstruction of justice!†Trump tweeted in quoting Dershowitz, a frequent commentator on Fox News.
“Special Council is told to find crimes, whether a crime exists or not. I was opposed to the selection of Mueller to be Special Council. I am still opposed to it. I think President Trump was right when he said there never should have been a Special Council appointed because…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2018
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…there was no probable cause for believing that there was any crime, collusion or otherwise, or obstruction of justice!†So stated by Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2018
Having once avoided using Mueller’s name, Trump has called it frequently in recent days to criticize the Russia investigation. So have aides who have been more public about calling on Mueller to bring some kind of conclusion to the process, at least as it relates to the president, claiming it has been a distraction from his duties.
“To pretend like going through this absurd process for over a year would not bring frustration seems a little bit ridiculous,” said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.
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Trump’c critics see another motive for the stepped-up criticism: Laying the groundwork for a firing of Mueller, though the White House denies that is in the offing.
At the very least, some lawmakers said, Trump is seeking to undermine Mueller and his inquiry into possible links between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russians who interfered in the election via email hacks and fake news targeting Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.
Mueller’s team is also investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice, including his 2017 decision to fire then-FBI director James Comey.
“We have in unpredictable president who acts often in irrational ways,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders of New Hampshire, the former Democratic presidential candidate. Speaking on MSNBC, Sanders said that “we have got to do everything possible to make it clear that if Trump forces Mueller, this is, in fact, an impeachable offense. It is not acceptable.”
The new rhetorical campaign against Mueller as his office and Trump’s lawyers negotiate possible testimony from the president. The talks center on the scope of the questioning and whether Trump can submit written answers to questions.
There is no guarantee Trump will testify at all, as his legal team says it has submitted documentation answering Mueller’s inquiries.
In addition to Mueller, Trump has criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions, other Justice Department officials, and the FBI over various aspects of the Russia probe.
During Wednesday’s tweet session, Trump criticized the Justice Department for not urging the Supreme Court to take up an appeal from the state of Arizona in an immigration case.
White House officials, meanwhile, said it is unfair to have the Russia investigation drag out.
“I don’t think that any individual, including members of Congress, would like it if they had been accused of taking their seat in Congress by doing something nefarious when they hadn’t,” Sanders said.
She added: “My guess is they would be more than anxious to push back, and certainly would defend themselves as the president has clearly done in this situation and has since day one.”
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