President Donald Trump might fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, CNN reported Tuesday, amid disclosures the Justice Department's No. 2 authorized the raid on Trump's longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen.
CNN cited "multiple people familiar with the discussions," noting dismissing Rosenstein — even Attorney General Jeff Sessions — were among "several options" as Trump continues to express outrage at Russia special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
"Officials say if Trump acts, Rosenstein is his most likely target, but it's unclear whether even such a dramatic firing like this would be enough to satisfy the president," CNN reported.
"The president's animosity towards Mueller reached its highest point yet on Tuesday, a person familiar with the president's thinking" told the cable network.
Trump slammed Monday's raid on Cohen's home and office as a "witch hunt" and a "disgrace" — after agents seized documents on topics including a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
"Two sources," CNN disclosed, "said the raid could mark a tipping point that would prompt the president to take more aggressive action against the special counsel."
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
The raid was conducted by the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan.
However, Rosenstein recused the interim head of the office, Geoffrey Berman, whom Trump named to the post in January.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Tuesday that Trump believed he had the authority to fire Mueller.
But "some of Trump's legal advisers are telling him they now have a stronger case against Rosenstein," CNN reported. "They believe Rosenstein crossed the line in what he can and cannot pursue.
"They consider him conflicted since he is a potential witness in the special counsel's investigation because he wrote the memo that justified firing former FBI Director James Comey."
Trump dismissed Comey in May 2017, leading to Mueller's appointment by Rosenstein.
Further, legal advisers told the network they believe Trump's team has "successfully argued to the American public that the FBI is tainted and think they can make the same case against Rosenstein."
In addition, a top White House official has been "discussing potential options with key congressional Republican leaders, fearful of 'blindsiding them'" with a Rosenstein dismissal, CNN reported.
"A person familiar with the conversations says a top congressional Republican advised the White House not to fire Rosenstein," according to the report.
A source also told CNN that President Trump believed Mueller was "unregulated," with few checks and balances on the scope of his investigation.
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