Shutting down Mueller probe would be ‘disaster’ for Republicans, Sen. Lindsey Graham says

Teddy Kulmala | The State

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham warned it would be “disaster” for the Republicans if President Donald Trump or his acting attorney general tried to shut down the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller before the investigation has concluded.

“It would be a disaster for the Republican Party for the Mueller investigation to be terminated or shut down or played with this close to the end,” Graham said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Let’s see what he finds.”

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Graham said he understands why Trump has been such an outspoken critic of Mueller and the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which the president frequently refers to as a “witch hunt.”

“He feels wronged by it,” Graham said of Trump. “I remember the Clinton-Ken Starr episode pretty well. This is sort of standard practice. But I think most Republicans on Capitol Hill and Democrats believe that Mr. Mueller should be allowed to do his job, and I have no indication he’s going to be interfered with at all.”

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker in the past has been critical of the probe, and supported limiting Mueller’s power, The Associated Press reported. South Carolina’s senior senator urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring legislation that would protect Mueller to the floor for a vote.

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“He thinks it’s unconstitutional. He thinks it’s not necessary,” Graham said when asked by NBC host Chuck Todd why McConnell hasn’t brought it to the floor for a vote. “Again, I helped draft the bill with Sen. (Cory) Booker. I think it’s constitutional and I’d like to vote on it. But having said all that, I don’t see any indication at all that the Mueller probe is going to be interfered with by Mr. Whitaker or President Trump.”