Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) on Sunday criticized President Trump’s attorney for calling for an end to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible ties between Trump’s campaign and Moscow.
“I think the president’s attorney, frankly, does him a disservice when he says that and when he frames the investigation that way,” Gowdy said on “Fox News Sunday.”
“If you look at the jurisdiction for Robert Mueller, first and foremost what did Russia do to this country in 2016. That is supremely important and it has nothing to do with collusion,” Gowdy said. “So to suggest that Mueller should shut down and that all he’s looking at is collusion, if you have an innocent client Mr. Dowd, act like it.” {mosads}
Trump lawyer John Dowd on Saturday called on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to “bring an end” to Mueller’s probe a day after Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.
“I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation,” Dowd said in a statement.
Gowdy, who is not seeking reelection this year, serves on the House Intelligence Committee. The Republican members of that committee recently issued a report stating they found no evidence of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, though Democrats have disputed their findings.
Gowdy on Sunday said that given his committee’s findings, Trump and his lawyer should want Mueller to take “all the time he needs” to do his job.
He added that he would urge Trump not to fire Mueller.
“If the allegation is collusion with the Russians, and there is no evidence of that, and you’re innocent of that, act like it,” Gowdy said.
Mueller has thus far obtained indictments or guilty pleas from four former Trump associates. He also charged 13 Russians and three Russian organizations with allegedly interfering in the 2016 election.