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THE WHITE HOUSE insisted last night that Donald Trump has the power to fire special prosecutor Robert Mueller, stoking fears that the president may try to kill an investigation inching ever-closer to the Oval Office.
After months of denying Mueller’s removal is under consideration, the change in tone came as Trump reacted furiously to an FBI raid of his private lawyer’s offices on Monday.
Special counsel Mueller was appointed in May to investigate Russian efforts to tip the 2016 presidential election in Trump’s favour.
Over the last year, he has increasingly dug into evidence of alleged money laundering, fraud and obstruction of justice inside Trump’s inner circle.
Four Trump aides – including his 2016 campaign chair Paul Manafort and former national security advisor Michael Flynn – have already been indicted or pleaded guilty.
Now, Trump’s longtime lawyer Michael Cohen – who holds secrets about many of the president’s personal and financial dealings – is in the crosshairs.
“We have been advised that the president certainly has the power to make that decision,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said of the possibility to remove Mueller.
I think that the president has been clear that he thinks that this has gone too far.
Trump hunkered down at the White House, cancelling a first trip to Latin America that was due to start Friday and stewing on a move that could throw America into a constitutional crisis.
At the same time, Trump faced a momentous decision about whether to carry out military strikes in Syria.
‘TOTAL WITCH HUNT’
Trump has pledged to decide by the end of Tuesday how to respond to a suspected chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus, blamed on the Syrian regime and its allies.
But while much of his national security team debated whether strikes would be effective in deterring future chemical attacks, and how to limit the risk of escalation, Trump met his lawyers Jay Sekulow and Ty Cobb to discuss the Cohen raid.
His anger showed no signs of abating.
“A TOTAL WITCH HUNT!!!” the president blasted on Twitter amid news that FBI agents had seized documents pertaining to his dealings with Cohen. “Attorney–client privilege is dead!”
Donald J. Trump / Twitter
Donald J. Trump / Twitter / Twitter
In a phone call with CNN, Cohen admitted the raid was “upsetting to say the least.”
Asked if he was worried, Cohen said: “I would be lying to you if I told that I am not. Do I need this in my life? No. Do I want to be involved in this? No.”
On Capitol Hill, Republican and Democratic lawmakers urged Trump to allow Mueller to do his work.
Democrats wanted to go one step further and pass legislation protecting the Republican former FBI director.
“If the president is thinking of using this raid to fire Special Counsel Mueller or otherwise interfere with the chain of command in the Russia probe, we Democrats have one simple message for him: don’t,” top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said.
The investigation is critical to the health of our democracy, and must be allowed to continue.
Trump’s fellow Republicans said that would not be necessary, with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley stating it would be “suicide” for the president to fire Mueller.
The raid on Cohen’s offices came amid allegations he paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 shortly before the election to keep a tryst with Trump quiet.
After months of silence, Trump last week offered a flat “no” when asked if he knew about the payment.
Another option that would allow Trump to contain Mueller would be dismissing deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, a move he is also considering, CNN reported, citing multiple sources close to discussions.
The firing would be premised on Rosenstein having overreached his remit. Some of Trump’s legal advisers believe him conflicted, since he is both a potential witness in the Russia investigation and wrote the memo that justified firing former FBI Director James Comey, CNN said.
Plans dashed
Trump’s decision to scrap his trip to Colombia and Peru surprised even some White House staff.
“The president will remain in the United States to oversee the American response to Syria and to monitor developments around the world,” Sanders said.
Trump had already cut the visit short – from five days, to three and, finally, to none.
The combative US president had been expected in Peru for the Summit of the Americas, where he was likely to face protests and awkward meetings with leaders who have bristled at his repeated portrayal of Latino immigrants as rapists and thugs.
Vice President Mike Pence will represent the United States in Lima instead, his aide Jarrod Agen said, adding that he would also meet Venezuelan dissidents.
Trump is still expected to travel to his Mar-a-Lago holiday home in Florida on Monday, where a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will go ahead.
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An absolute hero who gave everything and never thought of himself.
RIP, he was genuinely one of the good ones, saw through the religious divide and saw the good in everyone.
I had the honour of meeting Fr. Reid while he was at a seminary in San Sebastian in the Basque Country. The Basque people loved and admired him too. He was an inspiration and set an example for conflict resolution in that region also. Rest In Peace.
May he rest in peace. How many lives were saved because of this man’s actions? A real hero in the modern age.
Heard him described on the radio as “a fully paid up member of the human race”…cant add to that..RIP.
terrible news, he was a good man who done his best for the people in the North
He used to pop in to Comans in Rathgar to watch the football games, he never said who he was, nor I never asked him, as the match went on, he’d close his eyes for 40 winks, he never failed to say hello whilst out walking, but that wasn’t me, that was for everyone
What a contribution this man made towards the well being and safety of all of his fellow human beings on this tiny Island of ours.
Gosh, if in my lifetime I could do but a thimble full of the goodness which this man did, I would count my life as having been well worth while.
If ever there was a life worth celebrating and commemorating it would have to be the life of Alec Reid. Perhaps a scholarship in peace studies or some such educational endevour should now be considered in his honour of his memory.
We must never be allowed to forget the great good this man did in his lifetime.
The future of peace within the human family on the entire plot of land called Ireland will likely depend on it.
May you rest in peace Alec and may the good you did live on and be known to our children and our children’s children.
Nice to see a positive story about priests in news. They get a lot bad press over last few yrs,well done FR.
I believe that it was Father Alec Reid who was more instrumental than Bertie Ahern in initiating and mataining the momentum of the peace process.
Sadly, many prefer to ascribe the credit to Bertie but Bertie was not the sole mover in the peace process.
Father Red exercised personal courage, miral integrity and enormous skill in what he achieved. Many, many lives were saved as a result.
Atheist myself, but ‘God’ bless the peacemakers, of which this fine old gent was one.
If only more had the balls to act half of what he was. History will remember him to be the true architect of the good Friday agreement not the political fools that did kicking and screaming.
a sad day indeed
This priest went beyond the call of Duty. He was able to bring both sides together to try and sort out issues. That was no mean achievement. I heard an interview today on the radio it was said that he had a special gift of getting people together no matter what persuasion they were from. So I think Fr. Reid R.I.P. Deserves all the Great tributes that are being paid to him today.
Fr. Alec Reid, thank you for your unique approach that has transformed peace to this land.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
“May his soul be on God’s right side”
He never sought attention for himself but without him the Peace Process would never have come to anything.
A true Christian in that while he always condemed the sin he loved the sinner, irrespective of who he was & the photo of him praying over the dead soldier, one of the most iconic photos of the 20th century, was truly what Christ would have done in the same circumstances.
May he rest in peace.
We lost a good man today.
Goodnight Father.
We were blessed to have this man in our Country. I heard him described today on de radio as a reluctant hero, so true. Rip
is it not interesting that we are celebrating and remembering this mans great leadership and accomplishments on the day that he dies, 50 years to the day that another leader was cut down before he could show his qualities ….
A rarity in the clergy. He was a good man
What he did was to sit on the fence. By failing to condemn he indirectly supported the murder of the innocent.
Aaaaand here we go. You and your ilk bugger off you’ve no place here. He was a great, selfless and noble man. End of.
D**khead
Yeah just like your Idol and hero the great Rev Ian Paisley who did so much to try end Sectarian violence between two tribes. One majority tribe trying to keep the other in the gutter and trying to cling to power. But your days are up Kido
Imagine being you. I’d say it is terrible.
He condemned violence on all sides, his words and more so his actions proved that. Well done good and faithful servant. May he rest in peace.
Parm can’t be bothered to write your name properly (anyone betting on the cheap return shot) you are a complete and utter ignorant Sprat ( take away the s)
His years of work for peace in Northern Ireland, will always be remembered.
RIP to a truly great man.
There have been hundreds of comments on British Ex-Services sites thanking Father Reid for his actions and wishing RIP.
Saturday around 8pm over 500 on the Royal Signals site, both soldiers wereSignals.
Father Reid carried out his duty as a Priest in an exemplary fashion.
I also believe the actions of people present at the incident showed the respect he was held in
RIP
A great man of peace. ~~I’m surprised he didn’t join the “disappeared” for praying over the two murdered soldiers. people had been killed for much less!
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