Senate Sends Big Warning To Trump By Advancing Bill To Protect Mueller

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to protect Robert Mueller with bipartisan support in what is the biggest warning yet to the Trump to back off of the Special Counsel investigation.
The New York Times reported, “Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, has stated unequivocally that he will not bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. But with four Republicans, including the committee’s chairman, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, joining Democrats to vote in favor it, the measure sent a clear message to President Trump that senators are serious in their warnings not to fire Mr. Mueller.”

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Mitch McConnell is playing a game with Trump

McConnell has said that he won’t allow a bill to come to the floor for a vote to protect Mueller, but at the same time, Republican Senate leadership gave their blessing to Judiciary Committee to advance the Mueller bill. Chuck Grassley and other Judiciary Committee Republicans weren’t going rogue when they voted for the legislation. McConnell and the Senate GOP leadership are both interested in sending Trump a warning not to fire Mueller and have legislation in their back pocket in case Trump does make a move on Mueller.

McConnell won’t allow a vote on the bill if things stay exactly how they are right now.

Senate Republicans like having Mueller in place because his investigation acts as a firewall between them and the Russia investigation. If Mueller is gone, the Russia scandal becomes their problem. McConnell and company are telling Trump not to fire Mueller.

The bill is a warning and an insurance policy for Senate Republicans that will always be hanging over the head of Donald Trump.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association