Trump firing Mueller would be 'suicide,' says top US Republican

'The less the president says about this whole thing, the better off he will be,' Chuck Grassley says

(AP Images/J Scott Applewhite)

The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee has said it would be “suicide” for President Donald Trump to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.

"I think it would be suicide for the President to fire him," Senator Chuck Grassley told CNN. "I think the less the president says about this whole thing, the better off he will be.”

He added: “I think Mueller is a person of stature and respected and I respect him. Just let the thing go forward."

Mr Grassley is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee – one of several congressional bodies investigating possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia.

His comments came after the president slammed Mr Mueller for his role in a FBI raid on the offices of Michael Cohen, Mr Trump’s longtime personal attorney. The FBI entered Mr Cohen's offices and hotel room with a search warrant on Monday, looking for business records, emails, and documents on several different topics, according to the New York Times.

Mr Cohen’s lawyer claimed that Mr Mueller suggested the action to federal prosecutors.

“I have been advised by federal prosecutors that the New York action is, in part, a referral by the office of special counsel, Robert Mueller,” attorney Stephen Ryan told the Times.

Asked on Monday if he would fire the special counsel investigating his campaign’s possible ties to Russia, Mr Trump said: "I think it's a disgrace what's going on. We’ll see what happens, but I think it’s really a sad situation.”

“Many people have said, you should fire him,” he added.

The president also lashed out on Twitter, claiming “attorney–client privilege is dead!” and tweeting, simply: “A TOTAL WITCH HUNT!!!”

Mr Grassley is not the first Republican to warn Mr Trump against firing the special counsel – an action some have said would amount to obstruction of justice. Arizona Senator Jeff Flake told CNN last month that he believed his Republican colleagues would “take action” if the president went after Mr Mueller.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has said firing the special counsel would be “the beginning of the end” of Mr Trump’s presidency.

Mr Trump has already ordered Mr Mueller’s firing once before, according to the Times. He was rebuffed by White House counsel Rob McGahn, who claimed the decision would have a “catastrophic effect” on his presidency. He reportedly threatened to quit rather than carry out the order.

Mr Trump has denied ever ordering Mr Mueller fired.