Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Thursday that the guilty plea by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen should be the final straw that pushes Congress to vote on legislation to protect the special counsel probe from being ended.
Mr. Cohen’s plea included the claim that President Trump’s personal business empire was trying to strike business deals with Russia even during the heart of the 2016 campaign — contradicting Mr. Trump’s own indications of how things played out.
Mr. Schumer said Mr. Cohen’s indictment is the 35th secured by special counsel Robert Mueller, who’s been probing the 2016 campaign, Russian activities and the behavior of figures surrounding Mr. Trump.
That, he said, shows the president’s complaints about the probe are hollow.
“Calling Mueller’s investigation a witch hunt is just a lie,” Mr. Schumer said. “The president’s actions clearly show he has a lot to hide — that he is afraid of the truth, that he doesn’t want Mueller or anyone else to uncover it.”
Democrats and some Republicans have been fearful Mr. Trump would attempt to fire Mr. Mueller. They’re seeking to approve legislation that would insulate the special counsel from the president — though that would raise thorny constitutional questions, as well.
Speaking before Mr. Schumer, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said at a Washington Post event that he doesn’t see a need to pass the legislation, since he feels assured Mr. Trump will not fire Mr. Mueller.
“Bob Mueller has been left alone. I think he’s going to continue to be left alone. He’s going to finish his job,” the speaker said.
He wouldn’t say why he feels so certain, but left no doubt.
“If I was really really stressed about Bob Mueller ,I’d do something about it,” he said. “I just don’t think Bob Mueller — I don’t think he’s going to be interfered with.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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