Bipartisan senators to introduce bill to protect Mueller
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Two bipartisan senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee — Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons — plan to introduce a bill today designed to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from interference as his Russia probe continues, per CBS News.
What the bill would do: It would take the decision to fire a special counsel out of the hands of the president, granting the authority only to the most senior Department of Justice official heading the investigation. Additionally, it would allow a fired special counsel to challenge their removal in front of a panel of federal judges — with a guarantee that the case would be heard within two weeks.
Why it matters: The move shows that protecting the integrity of the government's Russia investigation is a rare issue that manages to bridge partisan divides in Washington. Additionally, it indicates the respect for Mueller on both sides of the aisle.