Bush ethics chief: Trump making Mueller's job easier with attacks on FBI

By Rebecca Savransky -
Bush ethics chief: Trump making Mueller's job easier with attacks on FBI
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The top ethics lawyer in former President George W. Bush's administration said President TrumpDonald John TrumpHouse Democrat slams Donald Trump Jr. for ‘serious case of amnesia’ after testimony Skier Lindsey Vonn: I don’t want to represent Trump at Olympics Poll: 4 in 10 Republicans think senior Trump advisers had improper dealings with Russia MORE is making special counsel Robert Mueller's job easier with his attacks on FBI officials.

"Using Twitter on Christmas Eve to intimidate a witness (McCabe) in a criminal investigation is not a very Christian way to celebrate the holiday," Richard Painter tweeted Sunday. "But it does make Mr. Mueller’s job easier and that’s a nice thing to do. Merry Christmas!"

His tweet comes after Trump lashed out this weekend at top FBI officials in his latest stream of criticism of the nation's law enforcement agency.

On Saturday, Trump swiped at multiple agency officials in a string of tweets, in which he suggested FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe may have been compromised by political donations and ripped former FBI Director James Comey as a leaker.

“FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!” Trump tweeted Saturday.

Mueller is conducting an investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The investigation is wide-ranging and Trump's critics hope it will lead to obstruction of justice charges for the president.

Trump has called the Russia probe a witch hunt and has denied collusion between his campaign and Russia.

Trump and the White House have also repeatedly denied the president is considering firing Mueller, amid public speculation.