Clapper: Trump firing Mueller ‘would be Watergate in slow motion’

James Clapper, director of national intelligence for former President Obama, said that President Trump could spark a “constitutional crisis” if he were to fire — or at least try to fire — special counsel Robert Mueller.

“I think this would create a real constitutional crisis,” Clapper said on CNN Thursday. “This would be Watergate in slow motion, which I also lived through.”

Clapper’s comment appeared to be a reference to President Nixon’s infamous “Saturday Night Massacre,” in which the president ordered the dismissal of Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox and prompted the resignations of his attorney general and deputy attorney general.

{mosads}Speculation has swirled in recent weeks that Trump could dismiss Mueller, who is charged with leading the criminal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

In an interview with The New York Times last month, Trump said that Mueller would cross a line if he began examining the president’s financial dealings. 

“I’m not sure how someone who is under potential investigation draws red lines and says that certain aspects are out of bounds. I don’t know how that works,” Clapper said. 

CNN reported Thursday that the special counsel investigation had expanded to include an examination of Trump and his associates’ potential financial ties to Russia. 

Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion or improper contact between his campaign and Russian nationals or officials and has called the special counsel probe a “witch hunt” aimed at undermining his presidency.