US senators introduce bill to protect special counsel Mueller

Two US senators introduce a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting special counsel Robert Mueller, who faces mounting pressure as he investigates US President Donald Trump’s team for possible connections to Russia.

The legislation, sponsored by Democrat Chris Coons and Republican Thom Tillis, would help insulate Mueller by barring a president from directly firing the special counsel without a judicial review.

Under the bill, Mueller would be allowed to challenge his removal in court in the event he is fired without good cause.

“A back-end judicial review process to prevent unmerited removals of special counsels not only helps to ensure their investigatory independence, but also reaffirms our nation’s system of check and balances,” Tillis says in a statement.

Coons adds: “Ensuring that the special counsel cannot be removed improperly is critical to the integrity of his investigation.”

Mueller, a former FBI director, is leading a beefed-up investigation into whether Trump’s team colluded with Russia to tilt the 2016 election in the US president’s favor.

Trump has repeatedly denied inappropriate links to Moscow, and has sought improved ties with the Kremlin.

— AFP