President Donald Trump made an attempt to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last summer but did not succeed after counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign. Reportedly, four people with knowledge of the development testified that Trump ordered Mueller to be fired last June.
According to New York Times, Trump reportedly said Mueller had conflicts of interest in his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, including a dispute over fees at Trump’s National Golf Club in Virginia and Mueller’s previous employment at a law firm that represent Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
McGahn refused to obey the president and threatened to resign, explaining that Trump’s order would only contribute to more speculation that the president was obstructing the investigation in Russia’s meddling in the elections.
The Hill reports, that another option considered by the president involved removing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the Justice Department’s second-highest official, and appointing Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand to oversee Mueller’s team of prosecutors. This option also never materialized.
Trump’s lawyer Ty Cobb apparently for months tried to calm the president that Mueller’s investigation is almost over. Cobb declined to give any comments regarding the new report.
“We decline to comment out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process,” Cobb said.
As reported by the Times, Mueller found out about Trump’s attempt only after he recently interviewed present and former officials of Trump’s administration.
Trump Wednesday told White House reporters that he looks forward to Mueller interview adding that there is no collusion with Russia.
“There’s been no collusion whatsoever. There’s no obstruction whatsoever, and I’m looking forward to it,” Trump said.
Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee commented regarding the Times report.
“Any attempt to remove the Special Counsel, pardon key witnesses, or otherwise interfere in the investigation, would be a gross abuse of power, and all members of Congress, from both parties, have a responsibility to our Constitution and to our country to make that clear immediately,” he said.
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