Senators approve measure to stop Trump firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller

Reports suggest Mr Trump has long wanted to get fire man heading Russia probe

A powerful group of senators - including four Republicans - has approved a bill aimed at stopping Donald Trump from firing the special investigator heading the probe into the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with Russia.

Amid lingering speculation Mr Trump wants to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and following reports he was on the brink of doing so more than once, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted for legislation that would provide protection to the investigator.

The measure - which was approved 14-7 - would give any special counsel a 10-day window to seek judicial review of his or her firing, the Associated Press reported. It also would put into law existing Department of Justice regulations that investigators can only be fired for good cause.

The move by the committee now puts the bill into the hands of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has previously said he will not let the issue reach the Senate floor for a full vote.

Nevertheless, the vote was significant in that it underscored the concern felt not only among Democrats, but Republicans also, that Mr Trump could decide to fire Mr Mueller.

The AP said nearly all Republican senators say Mr Trump should not fire Mr Mueller, but some of those who supported the legislation to protect the Special Counsel, said more needs to be done to protect against prosecutorial overreach.

A key supporter is committee chairman Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, who voted for the measure and argued that Mr McConnell should change his mind.

“While my constitutional concerns remain, I believe this bill should be considered by the full Senate,” said Mr Grassley said.

Earlier this year, it was reported Mr Trump had wanted to fire Mr Mueller last summer but was talked out of it by one of his lawyers, White House counsel Donald McGahn, who threatened to quit if he did so.

Last summer, Mr Trump the New York Times he would consider Mr Mueller had crossed a “red line”, if the Russia probe started to delve into his personal properties. “I would say yeah. I would say yes. By the way, I would say,” he said.

Last month, amid fresh speculation that the Special Counsel may be heading for the door, Republican senator Lindsey Graham, one of the committee members who approved the measure on Thursday, advised Mr Trump - with whom he has a decent relationship - against such as move.

“If he tried to do that, that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency, because we’re a rule-of-law nation,” he said on CNN.

“When it comes to Mr Mueller, he is following the evidence where it takes him, and I think it’s very important he be allowed to do his job without interference, and there are many Republicans who share my view.”

Mr Trump cannot fire Mr Mueller directly and would have to order his Department of Justice to do so. Given that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescued himself from the case, it would fall to the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein.