Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday that a New York Times story reporting that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein suggested secretly recording President Trump in the White House should not be used as "pretext" to justify firing Rosenstein.

The Times also reported, based on second-hand sources, that Rosenstein discussed using the 25th Amendment with Cabinet members to remove Trump for being unfit for duty. Within hours Trump allies pounced, calling for the firing of Rosenstein.



Rod Rosenstein must be fired today. @realDonaldTrump — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 21, 2018

“This story must not be used as a pretext for the corrupt purpose of firing Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein in order [to] install an official who will allow the president to interfere with the special counsel’s investigation," Schumer said in a statement, referring to special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into Russian meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

White House chief of staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other officials "have been reported to say critical things of the president without being fired," Schumer added.

[Opinion: Rod Rosenstein's fate should depend on a speedy investigation]