Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian activities during the election should not have been started, Rep. Pete King said Monday, but as it's underway, it would be a "serious mistake' for President Donald Trump to fire him.
"Bob Mueller does have a very good reputation, and the president would be making a serious mistake in getting rid of [him]," the New York Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" co-host Sandra Smith.
"It would just lead to more problems, another special counsel and [this] would go on certainly for the next two or three years."
King said that as a member of the Intelligence Committee, all he has seen and heard on shows is that there "is absolutely no evidence of collusion" and Mueller's probe should not have started at all.
"But it is underway, it is going, and to me, the president should let it go," said King. "Let it run its course. I also think Bob Mueller should give some idea of when this is going to be ended. This is the president of the United States. Whether it's Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, you can't have this needless cloud out there."
King on Monday also said he doesn't think it's "any big deal" if fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has turned over any memos of his meetings with Trump to Mueller.
"I'm sure President Trump never said anything to Andrew McCabe that was illegal or implied any type of illegality," said King. "Get all the memos you want. Turn them over. I have the same question about James Comey's memos. He sat down with Loretta Lynch. . . he never wrote a memo after his meetings."
McCabe also didn't keep memos of conversations he had with Lynch or others in the Justice Department, said King, so "they can turn over all the memos they want."
Meanwhile, King said he does not think Mueller should have an "open field" with his investigation, and he should give some information about when his probe will end.
"If they are going to go back over every aspect of Donald Trump's life, that's an investigation that can go on for the next 20 years," said King. "They probably won't find anything. Again, if you give somebody that type of power and people's lives are ruined in the process."