Illinois Congressman Gutierrez Dares Trump To Fire Mueller In Speech On House Floor

By aaroncynic in News on Jun 13, 2017 7:22PM

As rumors and speculation continue to swirl around the possibility of President Donald Trump firing special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading a Department of Justice investigation into alleged Russian tampering with the 2016 election, one Illinois Congressman has dared the president to do it.

“If you want to see the President on a fast track to impeachment, then he should take this advice and fire Mueller,” said Illinois Representative Luis Gutiérrez in a speech on the House floor Tuesday. “You want to see this President in the express lane to impeachment, no ifs, ands or buts, then go for it. Come on, we dare you.”

On Monday evening, Chris Ruddy, CEO of the right wing news website Newsmax and loyal friend of the president told PBS News Hour he believed Trump was weighing the option of firing Mueller.

"I think he's weighing that option,” said Ruddy. “I think it's pretty clear by what one of his lawyers said on television recently. I personally think it would be a very significant mistake."

Chris Ruddy to @JudyWoodruff: President Trump is considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller, who he considered for another position. pic.twitter.com/X4IIHlh8at

— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) June 12, 2017

The White House denied that Trump ever discussed the matter with Ruddy. “With respect to this subject, only the President or his attorneys are authorized to comment,” said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Ruddy however, doubled down on the idea, telling NBC in a statement Spicer’s statement was “bizarre” and doesn’t deny his claim. "Memo to Sean: focus your efforts on exposing the flim-flam Russian allegations against POTUS and highlighting his remarkable achievements,” added Ruddy.

Gutiérrez called out both Ruddy and former House Speaker and Trump loyalist Newt Gingrich in his speech:

“Mr. Gingrich said Mueller was ‘a superb choice” with an impeccable reputation for fairness just a few weeks ago, but now says that there is no way Mueller can be fair. He wants the President to fire Mueller and wants a political fight against the very idea of special prosecutors.

Now Mr. Gingrich has been joined in this chorus by a Trump confidant and golf-buddy, the President of Newsmax, who says the President is contemplating firing Mueller. Mr. Speaker - and Mr. Former Speaker—if you want to see the President on a fast track to impeachment, then he should take this advice and fire Mueller.”

In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Bob Goodlatte last week, the 4th District Representative called on the Committee to invite the President to testify.

“It is the House Judiciary Committee that should be the venue for the President to defend himself against the serious allegations of official misconduct, including but not limited to apparent attempts at obstruction of justice in the removal of Mr. Comey in order to relieve the ‘pressure’ the President was feeling from investigations related to his campaign’s ties to Russian meddling in America’s most recent presidential election.”

Gutiérrez however, appears less than hopeful such testimony would occur. “I don’t think the Chairman will invite the President, a man he campaigned for, because the role of the House Judiciary Committee right now is to protect the President at all costs; shielding the President from tough questions,” he said.