Rosenstein says that Mueller will have “full independence” for Russia probe, as Republicans rebuke firing reports
Amid the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigations — by far, the most explosive move of his still young presidency — Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testified that he would not follow any such order unless he thought there was good cause. The senior Justice Department official reassured a Senate Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday that he — not the president — is the only official empowered to dismiss special counsel Robert Mueller, who’s leading the Justice Department’s probe into Russia’s meddling in last year’s election. “There is no secret plan (to remove Mueller) that involves me.’ ’ A longstanding general rule is that unless Congress specifies otherwise, “the power of removal [is] incident to the power of appointment.” Because Rosenstein appointed Mueller last month after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe over his undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador, he should be the only person with the power to fire Mueller. Technically, however, Trump can either order Rosenstein to fire Mueller or ordering the regulations that govern his appointment repealed in order to fire Mueller himself. When asked by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N. H., whether he has seen good cause to fire Mueller, Rosenstein said “no, I have not, ” adding, “If there were good cause, I would consider it. If there were not good cause, it would not matter to me what anybody said.” Later, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked Rosenstein point blank: “If President Trump ordered you to fire the special counsel, what would you do?”
