The White House and surrogates to President Donald Trump have increased their verbal attacks on Robert Mueller, the special counsel for the Department of Justice's Russia probe, as reports swirl that Mueller's team is digging deeper.
Politico notes that Trump has suggested that Mueller's team is tainted because members of his group of investigators and prosecutors have donated to Democratic candidates. And Trump has continually pushed the narrative that the entire investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Russia is a "witch hunt."
A senior congressional Republican aide told Politico Friday that Mueller has a strong reputation on Capitol Hill and he is well-liked.
"He is a revered figure on the Hill, He is someone who has a sterling reputation," the aide said. "No one really questions his integrity."
The New York Times reported this week that Trump's legal team and his aides are probing the backgrounds of everyone on Mueller's team, with the goal of finding something that would present a conflict of interest in the case — and, therefore, would give Trump cause to get that person or Mueller himself taken off the case.
The White House also has warned Mueller not to look into Trump's personal financial information.
"The president's making clear that the special counsel should not move outside the scope of the investigation," principal deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday.
The Washington Post reported Friday that Trump and his legal team are exploring avenues that would stall Mueller's investigation.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.