US Senators Introduce Bill to Protect Special Counsel Mueller

A bipartisan pair of US senators, Thom Tillis and Chris Coons, rolled out on Thursday a bill that protects a special counsel in independent investigations from being terminated without a good cause.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Under the legislation, judges would decide whether there was a significant reason for firing of a special counsel and if the panel determines otherwise, the official would be immediately given his position back.

"In the event that a special counsel is removed, the Tillis-Coons legislation allows the special counsel to challenge the removal in court, which would be heard and determined by a panel of 3 federal judges within 14 days of the filing of the action," the proposed legislation said.

Tillis said in a press release on proposing the legislation that it is critical for the US judicial system special counsels to have the independence and resources they need to conduct investigations.

Special Counsel Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is leading an independent inquiry into Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 US election and the campaign of President Donald Trump.

Trump has characterized the investigation as being a witch hunt, while Russia has repeatedly refuted the US allegations of election meddling, calling them absurd and intended to deflect public attention from pressing domestic issues.