A former Watergate special prosecutor is likening President Trump’s actions to those of former President Nixon and warning of what could happen if Trump moves to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.
A former Watergate special prosecutor is likening President Trump ‘s actions to those of former President Nixon and warning of what could happen if Trump moves to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.
Richard Ben-Veniste wrote in an piece published in The Atlantic that Trump is «going full Nixon on Mueller.»
«Like Nixon, President Trump appears eager to fire the man investigating campaign and White House officials’ culpability in a high-profile scandal: Robert Mueller, the special counsel examining a broad range of subjects related to Russian interference in the 2016 election,» he wrote in the piece.
Ben-Veniste said he worked as a lawyer on the task force of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, investigating allegations of obstruction of justice against Nixon.
«The nation correctly perceived that Nixon’s true intention was to prevent Cox from uncovering evidence of criminal misconduct that Nixon was determined to keep hidden,» Ben-Veniste wrote.
«While Trump’s true intentions remain unknown, his feelings about Mueller, at least, are crystal clear—he hasn’t tried to hide them.»
He cited Trump’s attacks on the Russia probe, which the president has repeatedly referred to as a witch hunt.
He added that Mueller and his staff have thus far done nothing «publicly known that would provide a legitimate reason to justify dismissal.
«Instead, Mueller has been methodically investigating under the mandate he was given and is building out cases in multiple directions,» he wrote.
Ben-Veniste also cited reports from The New York Times that said Trump sought to fire Mueller in December.
«There’s nothing to suggest Trump has changed his mind about the Mueller inquiry in the months since,» Ben-Veniste wrote.
He warned that Cox’s dismissal was «the beginning of the end for Nixon.»
«Firing or hobbling Mueller could precipitate a similar firestorm of public protest, perhaps matching the backlash against the Saturday Night Massacre in its scope and intensity,» he wrote.
Trump in recent days has lashed out at the Russia probe after the FBI raided the office of his personal lawyer Michael Cohen.
This week, a group of bipartisan senators introduced legislation to limit Trump’s ability to fire Mueller.
The legislation would let Mueller, or any other special counsel, receive an «expedited judicial review» within 10 days of being fired to determine if it was for a «good cause.» If it was determined it wasn’t, he would be reinstated.
Ben-Veniste wrote that if Trump «indeed, decided to remove Mueller once and for all, perhaps only a credible threat of impeachment will deter him.»
