Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Tuesday he has confidence special counsel Robert Mueller will be able to run a fair investigation into Russia's meddling in the presidential election.
But he cannot say if President Donald Trump feels the same way.
Early in Sessions' appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the panel's ranking Democrat, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, explored reports speculating Trump might fire Mueller – and asked Sessions if the former FBI director could conduct an impartial probe.
"I have known Mr. Mueller over the years," Sessions testified Tuesday. "He served 12 years as a FBI director. I knew him before that, and I have confidence in Mr. Mueller."
He could not say, however, whether Trump has the same level of confidence.
And when Warner asked Sessions if he would refrain from any actions to have Mueller removed, the attorney general replied: "I don't think that would be appropriate for me to do."