Ryan on Mueller: Let special counsel 'do his job'

The startling assertion comes as some of Trump's conservative allies, who initially praised Mueller's selection as special counsel, have begun trying to attack his credibility.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is assuring senators Tuesday that special counsel Robert Mueller, who's leading the Justice Department's probe into Russia's meddling in last year's election, will have the "full independence he needs to conduct that investigation".

High-profile supporters of President Donald Trump are turning on special counsel Robert Mueller, the man charged with investigating Russian interference in the USA election and possible collusion with Trump's campaign.

The fact that Ruddy and Miller even need to go on the airwaves and tell him to avoid such an obviously bad course of action suggests, whether it's this or something else, Trump will at some point be tempted to take things too far, in a way that might - finally and permanently - do him the kind of damage he hasn't done yet.

Rosenstein is scheduled to testify today before both Senate and House subcommittees regarding the Justice Department's budget, and he is likely to be questioned about Mueller's status.

"When the day comes that our country can not rely on people to deliver the truth about whatever the subject is from positions of great authority and great reputations, like Mueller, and if we just dismiss those as not being able to deliver us the truth about an issue, we've got more problems than we think we have", Womack said. "On CBS This Morning former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who had initially said he was a fan of Mueller, accused him of picking politically biased investigators", she reported, as though his statement somehow belonged to Trump.

Ryan argued Mueller must be allowed to carry on his investigation "because of what [Trump] did with Comey", referring to the president's decision to fire the former FBI director over the Russian Federation investigation.

Rosenstein, who was speaking before the senate appropriations committee because Sessions has recused himself from all matters related to the Russian Federation investigation, said that only he has the authority in the justice department to fire Mueller and that he would do so only if the president's orders are "lawful and appropriate".

High-profile supporters of President Donald Trump are turning on special counsel Robert Mueller, the man charged with investigating Russian interference in the USA election and possible collusion with Trump's campaign.

"Is the President now considering firing special prosecutor Robert Mueller who is now overseeing the Russian Federation investigation", speculated ABC Anchor David Muir during World News Tonight.

CNN's race-baiting pundit April Ryan says there's "mass hysteria" over rumors Trump may fire Robert Mueller.

"He had a private conversation with the President on his views about all sorts of matters potentially about the investigation", Ruddy said.

"I did not talk to the president about the issue", Ruddy said.

Special counsels, which were created through a 1999 act of Congress, don't answer directly to the president.

"It's a mistake to pretend that this is going to be some neutral investigation", Gingrich said.

The overwhelming majority of Ruddy's contributions have been to Republicans, but he also contributed to Joe Lieberman's independent bid for Senate in 2006 and he gave $500 apiece to the 2012 Democratic campaigns of Dave Aronberg for Palm Beach County state attorney and Maria Sachs for state Senate.

Mr Rosenstein has also acknowledged that "theoretically" Mr Mueller could be removed from the position as special counsel, potentially undermining his investigation.

Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax Media, based his Mueller comment on a television interview with one of Trump's lawyers. He added that "if there were good cause, I would consider it". "Trump is definitely considering it ... it's not something that's being dismissed", Ruddy said.

So says someone who helped craft the special-counsel law.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer later insisted that "Mr". Ruddy acknowledging that, but doubling down.