In an early-morning tweet, the President declared that he was "being investigated" for his decision to fire James B. Comey, the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director.
If Trump's goal is to limit Mueller's probe or force him out, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said this week, "that would be disastrous for him". On Friday morning, in yet another baffling move, he went after the most powerful U.S. government official in charge of the ongoing investigation into Russia's meddling in the last United States election.
In their July 2016 report about the investigation into Clinton's email practices, FBI agents said a Clinton aide told them he recalled "two instances where he destroyed Clinton's old mobile devices by breaking them in half or hitting them with a hammer".
Mueller was appointed as special counsel to investigate Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion by Trump campaign associates with the Russians, but there has been no indication that Mueller told Trump to fire Comey.
If Trump is forced to go, Pence will need to be free from further taint.
The White House has directed questions to outside legal counsel, which has not responded. President Donald Trump's closest allies are attacking the integrity of those involved in the widening probe of Russian interference in the USA election, accusing special counsel Mueller of driving a biased investigation.
Rosenstein came to the job with a sterling reputation, a reputation that Trump is slowly defecating all over as he does with all he touches.
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.
It was not clear whether the President was basing his tweet on direct knowledge that he is under investigation, or on reports this week that special counsel Robert Mueller is examining whether the President obstructed justice by firing Mr Comey last month amid the ongoing Russian Federation investigation.
Dozens of victims feared to be still inside Grenfell Tower
Theresa May is as "distraught as anyone" about the Grenfell Tower fire , according to the First Secretary of State, Damian Green. The queen's official birthday is marked in June when the weather is often nicer than in April, the actual month of her birth.
The marathon of high-profile congressional hearings continues Tuesday with a session scheduled by the Senate Judiciary Committee's panel on crime and terrorism. Brand - who also enjoys an excellent reputation, like Rosenstein - is who he allegedly talked to about recusal. "That's undemocratic on its face and a blatant violation of the president's oath of office".
But Republicans also worry that Mr. Trump is giving Mueller more material to investigate all the time.
The order from the general counsel for the transition team casts a wide net on documents that could shed light on ties between Mr Trump's presidential campaign and representatives of Russia's government.
Mueller investigation appeared to be reaching a broadening circle of current and former officials.
The memos - first cited by the New York Times last month - said Trump told Comey in February to end the bureau's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's Russian Federation connections. Since then, dozens of critical leaks about the Russian Federation investigation and Trump's handling of classified information have been reported, seriously undermining the administration's agenda.
Trump has lashed out on Twitter repeatedly, calling the reports of obstruction of justice "phony" and railing against what he called "the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history".
Trump advisers and confidants describe the president as increasingly angry over the investigation, yelling at television sets in the White House carrying coverage and insisting he is the target of a conspiracy.
Trump has been told repeatedly not to post such missives on Twitter but has decided he is in for a political fight, according to one outside adviser briefed on the strategy. The legal one will come later.
The transition official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss post-election decisions publicly. NPR's White House correspondent Tamara Keith reports. But it's part of the President's mindset that he's under siege and he's going to fight like he always has.
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