NYT: Trump Wanted To Fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller Last June
On Wednesday   President Trump  said  he  was looking forward to sitting down with Special Counsel Robert Mueller  who is heading up the DOJ’s probe into whether  his  campaign colluded with the Russians during the 2016 election. Yet  does Mueller know that  Trump  reportedly wanted  him  gone last June? The New York Times is reporting that  Trump  wanted to remove Mueller last June  but backed off when the White House counsel threatened resignation. Controversy erupted from the outset of this probe  as Mueller seemed to have assembled a team of die-hard Democrats  though the publication added that since the White House hired Ty Cobb  the lawyer that manages the relationship between 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and the Mueller probe  the criticism towards the investigation has been reduced significantly. Another idea that was reportedly tossed around was firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and putting Rachel Brand  the third highest-ranking DOJ official  in his place to oversee the Mueller.
Mr. McGahn disagreed with the president’s case and told senior White House officials that firing Mr. Mueller would have a catastrophic effect on  Mr. Trump’s  presidency. Mr. McGahn also told White House officials that  Mr. Trump  would not follow through on the dismissal on  his  own.  The president  then backed off.
Another option that  Mr. Trump  considered in discussions with  his  advisers was dismissing the deputy attorney general  Rod J. Rosenstein  and elevating the department’s No. 3  official  Rachel Brand  to oversee Mr. Mueller . Mr. Rosenstein has overseen the investigation since March  when Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself.
 Mr. Trump  has significantly ratcheted back  his  criticisms of Mr. Mueller since he hired Mr. Cobb in July.  A veteran of several high-profile Washington controversies  Mr. Cobb  has known Mr. Mueller for decades  dating to their early careers in the Justice Department.
 He  advised  Mr. Trump  that  he  had nothing to gain from combat with Mr. Mueller  a highly respected former prosecutor and F.B.I. director who has subpoena power as special counsel. Since Mr. Cobb’s arrival  the White House has operated on the premise that the quickest way to clear the cloud of suspicion was to cooperate with Mr. Mueller  not to fight him.
On Wednesday   [TGT]said  [TGT]  was looking forward to sitting down with Special Counsel Robert Mueller  who is heading up the DOJ’s probe into whether  [TGT]  campaign colluded with the Russians during the 2016 election. Yet  does Mueller know that  [TGT]reportedly wanted  him  gone last June? The New York Times is reporting that  [TGT]  wanted to remove Mueller last June  but backed off when the White House counsel threatened resignation. Controversy erupted from the outset of this probe  as Mueller seemed to have assembled a team of die-hard Democrats  though the publication added that since the White House hired Ty Cobb  the lawyer that manages the relationship between 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and the Mueller probe  the criticism towards the investigation has been reduced significantly. Another idea that was reportedly tossed around was firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and putting Rachel Brand  the third highest-ranking DOJ official  in his place to oversee the Mueller.
Mr. McGahn disagreed with the president’s case and told senior White House officials that firing Mr. Mueller would have a catastrophic effect on  Mr. Trump’s  presidency. Mr. McGahn also told White House officials that  [TGT]would not follow through on the dismissal on  [TGT]  own.  The president  then backed off.
Another option that  [TGT]considered in discussions with  [TGT]  advisers was dismissing the deputy attorney general  Rod J. Rosenstein  and elevating the department’s No. 3  official  Rachel Brand  to oversee Mr. Mueller . Mr. Rosenstein has overseen the investigation since March  when Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself.
 [TGT]has significantly ratcheted back  [TGT]  criticisms of Mr. Mueller since he hired Mr. Cobb in July.  A veteran of several high-profile Washington controversies  Mr. Cobb  has known Mr. Mueller for decades  dating to their early careers in the Justice Department.
 He  advised  [TGT]that  he  had nothing to gain from combat with Mr. Mueller  a highly respected former prosecutor and F.B.I. director who has subpoena power as special counsel. Since Mr. Cobb’s arrival  the White House has operated on the premise that the quickest way to clear the cloud of suspicion was to cooperate with Mr. Mueller  not to fight him.