Lawmakers criticize Trump's tweets about Russian Federation investigation

Robert Mueller, the special counsel named by the department to investigate the Russian Federation matter, is now examining whether Trump or others sought to obstruct the probe, a person familiar with the inquiry said on Thursday.

Some of his ire is aimed at Mr Rosenstein and investigative special counsel Robert Mueller, both of whom the president believes are biased against him, associates say.

As the investigation expands, that raises the possibility that Rosenstein may recuse himself from that role, since he wrote the memo justifying Comey's firing.

The focus on Rosenstein sharpened Friday because the President attacked the deputy attorney general in a tweet, blaming him for what he terms a "witch hunt".

The White House originally pointed to Rosenstein's memo, which was also signed off on by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, when explaining Trump's decision to let Comey go.

The latest social media outburst by the president on his personal Twitter account came after a Washington Post report that Mueller is looking into the financial transactions of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is a senior adviser to the president. Meanwhile, no doubt relying on Mueller's sterling reputation, Rosenstein gave the special counsel free rein on staffing.

This argument by Trump, however, had been subject to questions because of statements and actions made by him. While the investigation had originally been focused on potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian Federation, the Post reported, the obstruction inquiry began after Trump fired Comey.

Trump's Twitter response followed days of intensifying criticism of Mueller from some conservatives who have charged the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director and his team with political bias and have claimed his relationship to Comey and an earlier meeting with Trump amount to conflicts of interest.

Trump's tweets came after the top lawyer for his transition team warned the organization's officials to preserve all records and other materials related to the Russian Federation probe.

President Trump issued an eyebrow-raising tweet Friday morning. But soon after the abrupt termination, Trump told NBC News that he had been going to fire Comey regardless of any recommendations.

A source on Trump's legal team attempted to clarify the missive, claiming he was reacting to media reports about the investigation rather than offering public confirmation. Rosenstein in a memo to Trump raised concerns over FBI Director James Comey.

The move ordered Thursday by the transition's general counsel cast a wide net on documents tied to the Russian Federation investigation as well as inquiries into the activities of Trump associates.

But according to Jack Goldsmith and Benjamin Wittes at Lawfare, Mueller has the real power in the investigation.

Trump's tweet comes less than a day after a odd statement from a senior official in his administration.

"You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people".

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee just hinted at the constitutional crisis that will occur if Trump fires the Deputy Attorney General and the Special Counsel. The order also covers separate inquiries into several key Trump associates including Flynn; campaign adviser Paul Manafort and his business partner, Rick Gates; foreign-policy aide Carter Page; and outside adviser Roger Stone.

And Democrats and Republicans alike have criticized his use of Twitter, particularly amid the ongoing investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.