President Trump Calls On Attorney General To End Russia Probe
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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump says his attorney general should put an end to special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
Trump is making his views known in a series of tweets as the trial of his onetime campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, enters its second day in a Virginia courtroom. He's on trial for bank fraud and tax evasion charges.
The president says Attorney General Jeff Sessions "should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further."
..This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further. Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2018
But Sessions stepped aside last year from overseeing Mueller's inquiry, and it's Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who's taken over that duty.
However, Congressional Republicans say Mueller's investigation needs to run its course.
The No. 3 Senate Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, says Trump "has his own way of conveying his views." But he adds, "Most of us up here believe the process needs to play out, and it will."
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said many "wish the Mueller investigation would go away," but adds, "that's not going to happen."
Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said there would be "chaos" in Congress if Trump were to act against Mueller.
Democrats say Trump's tweet is evidence he is obstructing justice.
Trump is trying to distance himself from Manafort, who led Trump's efforts to secure the GOP presidential nomination in 2016. Trump tweets that Manafort "He worked for me for a very short time."
Manafort was the campaign chairman for about five months in 2016.
(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)