The top Democrat on the House intelligence committee on Sunday called for bipartisan legislation to protect an independent counsel.
In an interview on ABC News' "This Week," Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., discussed the ramifications if President Donald Trump were to fire special counsel Robert Mueller amid his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
"Well, I would hope that it would prompt all Democrats and Republicans in the House to pass an independent counsel law and reinstate Bob Mueller," he said. "This would undoubtedly result in a constitutional crisis, and I think Democrats and Republicans need to speak out about this right now."
"Don't wait for the crisis," he added. "But I would hope that that would be the result that we would affirm our system of checks and balances and appoint an independent counsel."
Schiff also asserted recent firings in the administration — including that of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe last Friday — involve people who "corroborate" former bureau director James Comey on possible obstruction of justice allegations.
"The fact that McCabe and every other of the James Comey associates . . . who corroborate James Comey on the issue of potential obstruction of justice, every one of them has been targeted by the administration, by the Republicans in Congress and is this because they corroborate James Comey?" Schiff said.
"That's a question we also have to answer."
Schiff said McCabe's firing "may be justice," but asserted:
"There is no way for us to know at this point. But even though it may have been justified, it can also be tainted."
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.