A number of Republican lawmakers are speaking out against speculation that President Trump could fire special counsel Robert Mueller, saying the the president would be wise to let the former FBI director continue his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
“He’s the best hope for giving us a product that the largest number of Americans can accept as credible,” Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told left-leaning Mother Jones.
Among the other GOP lawmakers advising against such a move are Sens. John Barrasso (Wyo.), Pat Toomey (Pa.), Cory Gardner (Colo.), Luther Strange (Ala.), Pat Roberts (Kan.) and John Hoeven (N.D.), according to Mother Jones.
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“At this point, he should continue to complete his work, but it has to be an open and transparent process,” Hoeven said.
“We should allow Director Mueller to continue to do his job,” Gardner told Mother Jones.
Speculation has swirled in recent weeks that Trump could move to fire the special counsel, who is looking into, among other things, potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Trump has rejected the notion that his campaign coordinated with Russian representatives or officials, and has called Mueller’s investigation a “witch hunt.”
In recent days, the president and his allies have denied any plans to fire Mueller. Asked by a reporter earlier this week if he was planning to do away with the special counsel, Trump replied, “No, I’m not.”
Mueller’s integrity often earns a bipartisan defense, despite some challenges to the impartiality of his investigation.
A number of Republican lawmakers have already spoken out against the prospect of Trump firing Mueller, including Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), John McCain (Ariz.) and Joni Ernst (Iowa).