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Republicans in Congress divided over protecting Mueller from being fired by Trump

Washington • Republicans in Congress were divided Sunday over protecting special counsel Robert Mueller III, with two senators embracing plans to make it more difficult for President Donald Trump to fire him but a top House lawmaker declaring them unnecessary.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., highlighted his proposal to check Trump's power over Mueller, while Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said it wouldn't hurt to pass legislation along those lines.

But House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said there was no need to pass such a measure, as he defended how the president and his team have navigated Mueller's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.