Mitch McConnell Puts Kibosh on Bill Protecting Robert Mueller
Majority leader reiterates belief that Trump won't fire the special counsel
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he would not be making floor time for legislation designed to shield Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III from firing.
McConnell’s determination that the action is not needed is apparently regardless of what happens in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I don’t think he should fire Mueller, and I don’t think he’s going to,” the Kentucky Republican said. “So, this is a piece of legislation that’s not necessary in my judgement.”
“I’m the one who decides what we take to the floor. That’s my responsibility as the majority leader. We’ll not be having this on the floor of the Senate,” McConnell said during a Fox News interview.
Watch: The Status of Legislation to Protect Robert Mueller
[jwp-video n=”1″]
The Judiciary Committee has a bipartisan bill on its agenda for Thursday’s markup, which may be held over for a week before consideration. Republicans and Democrats alike have expressed concern that President Donald Trump may seek to fire Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
The measure being considered by the Senate committee is a hybrid of combines two separate proposals, each backed by Republicans and Democrats.