Trump lawyer calls for end to special counsel's Russia investigation

Maureen Groppe | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Andrew McCabe may have memos of Trump interactions Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe reportedly kept memos regarding President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON — Democrats sounded the alarm Saturday after a lawyer for President Trump said special counsel Mueller should stop investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election and Moscow's possible connection to the Trump campaign.

The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees called on both members of both parties to defend the importance of the investigation.

"Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, needs to speak up in defense of the Special Counsel. Now," tweeted Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.

Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, needs to speak up in defense of the Special Counsel. Now. https://t.co/bg9pVtkdOv — Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) March 17, 2018

Warner's comment came after The Daily Beast published a statement from Trump lawyer John Dowd saying Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should end Mueller's investigation.

“I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe’s boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier," Dowd said.

He made the statement the day after Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe who was the agency's acting director this summer after Trump fired former director James Comey in May.

McCabe said he's being "singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey.”

Sessions said McCabe's firing was the result of an "extensive and fair" probe of alleged misconduct, which concluded that he had made "an unauthorized disclosure to the news media and lacked candor − including under oath − on multiple occasions."

McCabe was fired barely 48 hours before his retirement benefits would have set in after 21 years of service with the FBI.

Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan offered Saturday to hire McCabe so he can be on the federal payroll long enough to get the retirement benefits he had been expecting.

“Andrew McCabe’s firing makes it clear that President Trump is doing everything he can to discredit the FBI and undermine the special counsel’s investigation,” Pocan said in a statement.

Trump applauded Sessions' decision early Saturday, calling it "a great day for democracy."

More: In war of words with Trump, fired FBI's McCabe says he will no longer be silent

"Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI," Trump said on Twitter.

Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018

Dowd's comment to The Daily Beast was a response to Session's decision, which he told NBC raises issues Rosenstein should consider about the timeline of the investigation.

Trump attorney John Dowd believes Deputy AG Rosenstein should end Mueller probe "on the merits" after McCabe firing, @KellyO reports. pic.twitter.com/KpGjUyGZsD — MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 17, 2018

In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Monday, Rosenstein offered unqualified support for Mueller.

"The special counsel is not an unguided missile," Rosenstein said. "I don't believe there is any justification at this point for terminating the special counsel."

While Dowd first told The Daily Beast he spoke on behalf of the president, he later said he only expressed his personal beliefs.

Still, California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, tweeted that he's concerned Trump is trying to obstruct justice.

"The President, through his lawyer, called on DOJ to end Mueller probe. Obstruction of justice is no less a threat to our democracy when done in the open than behind closed doors," Schiff tweeted. "Every representative should condemn this flagrant abuse of power or stop pretending devotion to duty."

The President, through his lawyer, called on DOJ to end Mueller probe. Obstruction of justice is no less a threat to our democracy when done in the open than behind closed doors. Every representative should condemn this flagrant abuse of power or stop pretending devotion to duty. https://t.co/YtwUXeOW23 — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) March 17, 2018

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Dowd's comments "are yet another indication that the first instinct of the president and his legal team is not to cooperate with Special Counsel Mueller, but to undermine him at every turn."

Schumer warned of "severe consequences" if Mueller's probe was ended.

"The president, the administration, and his legal team must not take any steps to curtail, interfere with, or end the special counsel's investigation or there will be severe consequences from both Democrats and Republicans," Schumer said.