McConnell: ‘I don’t hear much pressure’ to pass bill protecting Mueller from Trump

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Saturday he doesn’t think Congress has any role in protecting special counsel Robert Mueller from potentially being fired by President Trump.

“I don’t hear much pressure to pass anything,” McConnell said in an interview with Hugh Hewitt. “There’s been no indication the president or the White House are not cooperating with the special counsel.”

“I think the view up here is, let him do his job,” McConnell continued.

{mosads}McConnell’s comments come after the first indictments were handed down in Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference last week.

Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was charged on multiple counts, including conspiracy against the United States and money laundering related to his work for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine. His former business associate, Richard Gates, was also indicted.

It was also announced Monday that former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russian officials.

Senators have previously offered two bills that would protect Mueller from being fired by Trump.

One proposed bill, from Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), would require a judge to approve a Justice Department request to fire Mueller or any other special counsel. 

A second bill, from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), would let Mueller or any special counsel challenge their firing in court.

But following the news of the indictments, Republicans pushed back on Democrats calling for legislation to protect Mueller, saying it wasn’t necessary.

“I don’t feel an urgent need to pass that law until you show me that Mr. Mueller is in jeopardy,” Graham said Monday, adding that no one in their “right mind” would fire Mueller.