GOP lawmaker: Trump firing Mueller would set off ‘political crisis’

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) said Monday that President Trump “would set off a political crisis” should he move to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.

“It would be a self-destructive act to do that and it would set off a political crisis if he were to fire Mueller,” Dent told CNN’s “New Day.”

{mosads}Dent’s comments come as Republicans in the Senate have moved toward considering legislation to protect Mueller. It’s far from sure that bill will pass the Senate, however, let alone the House.

Dent, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, said Trump was “a factor” in his decision.

He has introduced a House bill to protect Mueller that is a companion to the legislation that Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) unveiled in the upper chamber. 

“I do believe that we need to protect the special prosecutor. It would be a terrible mistake for the president to fire him,” Dent told CNN. “It would be bad for the president. It would be bad for Republicans in Congress in the midterms. And most of all, it would be bad for the American people.”

The White House said last week that Trump believes he has the power to fire Mueller, who is leading the probe into Russia’s election meddling and any potential ties between Trump campaign staff members and the Kremlin.