GOP rep dismisses Mueller probe: ‘What the hell are we investigating?’

A Republican congressman dismissed the special counsel probing Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, calling the FBI probe a Democratic effort to undermine President Trump’s election victory.

During an interview with Fox News that came shortly after a report that the president may be considering firing Mueller, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) wondered aloud what, exactly, the counsel led by the former FBI director is investigating. 

“This seems more like an effort to prosecute Donald Trump than it is to investigate,” Duffy said to host Martha MacCallum. “And my concern, Martha, is what the hell are we investigating?”

{mosads}Duffy’s comments come as Republicans such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) question Mueller’s ability to lead the probe, noting political donations of Mueller’s staff. In addition to investigating Russian election meddling, the probe is said to be looking into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. 

But Duffy called the investigation a “charade” that is an attempt to undermine the election results.

“Why are we going through this charade of an investigation when there’s no evidence that Donald Trump had anything to do with the Russians?” he asked. 

“This is the Democrats’ effort to undermine the election results of last Nov. 8 and get their net end result, which is Donald Trump out of the White House.” 

Chris Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax who has a close relationship with Trump, on Monday evening told PBS the president is considering firing Mueller. 

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), fired back at that report with a simple message to the president: “Don’t waste our time.”

“If President fired Bob Mueller, Congress would immediately re-establish independent counsel and appoint Bob Mueller,” Schiff tweeted Monday evening. “Don’t waste our time.”