President Donald Trump has "no intention" of firing special counsel Robert Mueller, and there is "no need" for him to pardon his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, even though the White House is "frustrated" with the ongoing Russian investigation, White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short said Monday.
"Every day, there's a different vigil, a prayer vigil on CNN, is today the day that Mueller is going to get fired," Short told CNN "New Day" co-host Chris Cuomo. "We've been doing this for months. The president has no intention of firing Robert Mueller."
The reality is, though, that "we're frustrated," said Short.
"We feel like we've complied in every possible way with this investigation to drag on, but there are no plans to fire Mueller," said Short. It's impossible to say what the future is going to hold because you never know how far off it's going to veer as far as the investigation, [but] here are no plans to fire Robert Mueller...there are no plans to dismiss Robert Mueller, period."
There is also no need for Trump to pardon his attorney, Michael Cohen, Short said.
"There's no need for that at this point, Chris," said Short. "I think the president, of course, all of us are frustrated. We're very frustrated with the scope of the investigation and the way it's dragged on...we're anxious for the Senate to complete it. The American people are more interested to know that the unemployment rate is the lowest point in 17 years."
There have been other administrations that have been frustrated by special counsels, he added, as "we've seen, time and time again, special counsels have no boundaries and they go way beyond the scope of the initial investigation," said Short, pointing out the investigation into former President Bill Clinton.
"Republicans who had once stood against similar counsels decided during the 1990s for politicization they liked the special counsel," said Short. "They decided a special counsel, initiated for Whitewater, became an investigation about an intern having sexual relations with the president. The Republicans decided they like special counsels. Both sides decide when it's in their political favor they like a special counsel."
It would be nice, he added, if there was some consistency in recognizing the special counsel often goes way beyond the boundaries, he added.
"That's what the role of Congress is, to investigate, and the Department of Justice," said Short. "There's plenty of room to do their own investigations."
When Cuomo speculated that the investigation may have stayed in Congress if Trump had not fired James Comey as FBI director, Short retorted that the blame lies with Comey.
"No, maybe it would have stayed there if the head of the FBI, who said he was not a leaker testifies he intentionally leaked documents some of them classified for the purpose of sparking a special investigation," said Short.
Further, he said, Democrats wanted Comey to have been fired during the Obama administration over his actions toward nominee Hillary Clinton.
He also denied contentions that Trump has not stood up to Russia, saying he has placed sanctions on the country as well as engage them in places like Syria and Iran.
Meanwhile, the confirmation process for CIA Director Mike Pompeo's move to secretary of state has been "incredibly disheartening," said Short.
Cuomo said Pompeo has a different set of experience as CIA director than he would have as secretary of state, but Short said that anyone at the CIA would have said Pompeo has done a great job, including supporting "all the religions and all the agents of the CIA."
"The reason for the opposition now has nothing to do with that," said Short. "People know that he is a uniquely qualified person to serve as secretary of state. He should get overwhelming votes."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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