Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein says he wouldn't follow orders from President Donald Trump or anyone else to fire special counsel Robert Mueller unless they were "lawful and appropriate orders."
The No. 2 official at the U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday told Congress that Mueller, who's investigating Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign, is going to have "the full degree of independence" he needs.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked Rosenstein at a budget hearing Tuesday what he would do if Trump ordered him to fire Mueller.
Rosenstein said that if he fired Mueller, he would be required to explain it in writing. He added that "if there were good cause, I would consider it. If there were not good cause it wouldn't matter what anyone said."
He said he had seen no evidence of good cause for letting Mueller go and that Trump had not discussed the special counsel with him.</p>
Rosenstein said he has the sole ability to fire Mueller given that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from matters relating to the investigation.
This report contains material from Reuters and The Associated Press.
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