"The President did talk with him in the days before he was named special counsel", Ruddy told PBS on Monday in the same interview where he said Trump was "considering terminating" Mueller as special counsel. "That was the beginning of the end of Mr. Nixon", said law Prof.

"It makes sense to point out any level of bias, to highlight any biases inherent in Mueller and this probe in order to force him to be transparent", Gingrich said.

"I won't mince words, " Leahy told Rosenstein on Tuesday.

Under questioning from South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rosenstein said that having given political donations is not a disqualifier.

"When the day comes that our country can not rely on people to deliver the truth about whatever the subject is from positions of great authority and great reputations, like Mueller, and if we just dismiss those as not being able to deliver us the truth about an issue, we've got more problems than we think we have", Womack said.

"I have determined that a special counsel is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome", Rosenstein said last month.

On Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans expressed concern about Mueller's fate and advised the president that he would be making a big mistake by firing him.

Although Ruddy, who said he spoke to the president by phone over the weekend, said he personally thought it would be a mistake to take that step, other Trump cheerleaders, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Georgia, have begun assailing Mueller, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation director with a sterling reputation.

Trump interviewed Mueller for the director's position days before Rosenstein picked Mueller as special counsel for the Russian Federation probe, Sanders confirmed Tuesday.

Trump lacks the direct authority to dismiss Mueller.

"If there were not good cause, it wouldn't matter to me what anybody says".

This article has been update to include a comment from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

"If there were good cause, I would consider it". Rosenstein responded: "No I have not".

Rosenstein says the attorney general would be the only one who could fire Mueller. Sessions recused himself from investigations related to the Trump campaign in February, a move that also provoked Trump's ire.

Ryan agreed with McCarthy's characterization, saying "This is like a rumor we heard last night". I know Bob Mueller.

"I think the best thing to do is to let Robert Mueller do his job".

During a hearing on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT) before a joint House and Senate appropriations subcommittee, Rosenstein was asked whether he had seen any evidence of that. And his ability to endure a free-ranging investigation, directed by Mr. Mueller, that could raise questions about the legitimacy of his Electoral College victory, the topic that most provokes his rage, will be a critical test for a president who has continued on Twitter and elsewhere to flout the advice of his staff, friends and legal team.

The president is nonetheless angered by the investigation, which he has described as a "witch hunt", The New York Times reported.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan took questions from reporters Tuesday and was asked about the recent reports that President Donald Trump was considering firing Robert Mueller, the man chosen to lead the Department of Justice's investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to the Russian government.

Republicans in Congress are also shaking off the notion that Trump could fire Mueller.

- Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) June 15, 2017Newt, whatever you think you're getting in return for obsequiously sliming an American hero, I guarantee you it's not worth it. Stop.