Republicans warn Donald Trump it would be political ‘suicide’ to sack Robert Mueller

Senior Republicans have warned Donald Trump he would be committing political “suicide” by sacking Robert Mueller as the president escalated his attacks on the special counsel. 

Senators from Mr Trump’s own party said that a majority of congressmen believe Mr Mueller should be allowed continue his Russia investigation without political interference. 

They also discussed again whether the US congress should pass a law forcing the Trump administration to prove there was just cause should Mr Mueller be dismissed. 

Richard Nixon's firing of an independent special prosecutor when president, dubbed the Saturday Night Massacre, is seen to have sped up impeachment proceedings against him. 

The warnings came as Mr Trump continued a rhetorical assault on Mr Mueller’s investigation after his long-term personal lawyer Michael Cohen had his office and residence raided. 

Mr Trump tweeted that “attorney–client privilege is dead!” and added, in apparent reference to the developments: “A TOTAL WITCH HUNT!!!”
 

The New York Times reported that the raids on Mr Cohen were “related to two women who claim they had affairs with Mr Trump”.

On Monday, the US president declined to rule out firing Mr Mueller, saying “we’ll see what happens” and adding that “many people” said he should be him dismissed.

Mr Mueller has been tasked with leading the Russia election meddling investigation ever since James Comey, the former FBI director, was fired by Mr Trump last May. 

Previously Mr Trump had agreed Mr Mueller would be crossing a “red line” by investigating the president’s business affairs before taking office. 

Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of Senate judiciary committee, said: “I think it would be suicide for the president to fire [Mueller]. 

"I think the less the president says about this whole thing, the better off he will be. “I think that Mueller is a person of stature and respected and I respect him. Just let the thing go forward.”

Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator for South Carolina and a regular golf partner of Mr Trump, said that Mr Mueller was “well respected” and doing a “professional” job.

He said: “At the end of the day, Mueller needs to continue to his job without political interference. I think most members of Congress agree with that view."

Mitch McConnell, the most senior Republican in the US Senate, also added his voice to the concerns, saying Mr Mueller “should be allowed to finish the job he was assigned”. 

The comments contrast markedly with Mr Trump, who repeatedly used the word “disgrace” as he reacted to news that Mr Cohen’s office had been raided. 

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Sources close to Mr Trump told the news website Axios said that the raid on Mr Cohen was a “giant leap forward” and is being seen as a “personal hit” on the president.

Mr Cohen paid the porn star Stormy Daniels, who has alleged she had an affair with Mr Trump, $130,000 just days before the 2016 US election. 

Mr Trump has denied knowledge of the payment and the White House has denied Ms Daniels’ claims. Ms Daniels has also previously signed statements denying the affair. 

Mr Mueller passed on information that helped lead to the raid on Mr Cohen’s office, according to Mr Cohen's attorney, but the development is not directly linked to his investigation. 

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Mr Trump cannot fire Mr Mueller himself but can order the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, to make the move, according to legal experts. 

The White House suggested on Tuesday that Mr Trump may in fact have the ability to fire Mr Mueller directly.  A spokesman declined to provide more details when asked by journalists. 

Mr Rosenstein is overseeing the Russia investigation after Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, recused himself – much to Mr Trump’s frustration. 

Mr Mueller is seeking an interview with Mr Trump as he investigates claims of obstruction of justice. A date has not publicly been set for the meeting.