Adam Schiff spells out why Donald Trump can’t actually fire Robert Mueller
Now that Donald Trump’s Russia scandal is closing in on him by the day, his administration is publicly refusing to rule out the possibility that Trump might try to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller as a last ditch move. That’s led to widespread debate over whether Trump has the legal authority to do so. But Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, who has a legal background as a prosecutor, is spelling out why Trump wouldn’t get away with it even if he tried.
Schiff tweeted the following this evening: “If President fired Bob Mueller, Congress would immediately re-establish independent counsel and appoint Bob Mueller. Don’t waste our time.” (link). Although the Independent Counsel statute expired some time ago, Congress could quickly reauthorize it, and as Schiff alludes to, appoint Mueller to the position. This would only serve to give Mueller even broader power than he has now, while making him absolutely unfireable.
In order to pass, the Special Counsel statute would only require around ten percent of the Republicans in the House and Senate to support it, along with all of the Democrats. Considering the circumstances of Trump having just tried to fire the guy tasked with investigating him, that threshold of votes would be easily met, as many Republicans in Congress would to avoid being seen as complicit in Trump’s crimes as they head into their own reelection races in the midterms. In fact, Trump firing Mueller, only to force Congress to respond by elevating Mueller, could be the kind of earth shaking political event that helps ensure the Democrats retake Congress.
This may be why Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu, who also has a background as a prosecutor, dared Donald Trump last night to fire Robert Mueller (link). If Trump were to do it out of spite or frustration, it would only help cement his demise. If you’re a regular reader, feel free to support Palmer Report
