CNN Poll: More Americans Approve of Mueller's Handling of Russia Probe

More Americans approve of the way special counsel Robert Mueller is conducting the Russia investigation than of President Donald Trump’s handling of 2016 election meddling, a CNN poll found. 

In the survey conducted by pollster SSRS, 50 percent of respondents approve of Mueller’s handling of the Russia probe; 30 percent approve of the way Trump is handling the investigation.

The new Mueller approval rating is at its highest level in CNN polling, rising 3 points since August; Trump’s approval rating on the issue dipped 4 points.

The survey’s margin of error was plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

In other results, the poll found:

• 61 percent say they consider the Russia investigation a serious matter; 33 percent consider it an effort to discredit the Trump presidency.
• 72 percent say Trump should testify under oath for Mueller if asked; 23 percent say he shouldn’t testify.
• 73 percent think Trump knew about a $130,000 payment made directly by his ex-personal lawyer Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels in October 2016; 67 percent thought so in a survey in May.
• 47 percent say Trump ought to be impeached and removed; 42 percent said so in the May poll. However, 53 percent believe there isn’t enough cause for the House to begin impeachment hearings.’
• Among independents, 48 percent say Trump ought to be impeached, up from 38 percent in June.

• Trump Calls Mueller Investigation 'Illegal'
• Mueller Subpoenas Author Jerome Corsi for Grand Jury