Top Democrats warn Trump against firing Rosenstein

ANI  |  Washington D.C. [U.S.A.] 

"We write to inform you that we would consider such an unwarranted act as an attempt to obstruct justice in the investigation. Firing Rod Rosenstein, (Department of Justice) leadership or could result in a of the kind not seen since the Saturday night massacre," the Democrats said in a letter to the

The massacre is in reference to Richard Nixon's firing of the in the 1970s.

Local reports said that of and of said that they are "alarmed" at reports that may use the memo "as a pretext" to fire "in an effort to corruptly influence or impede" Robert Mueller's investigation.

is the only who can remove Mueller, and he was expected to be named in the four-page classified memo made public Friday, stated.

recently gave the green signal to release the controversial Nunes memo, containing alleged surveillance abuses of the (FBI).

"I think it's a disgrace.

A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves," said in Oval Office after approving the memo.

The decision clears the way for the to release the memo, reported

"It was declassified and let's see what happens," added.

said that the copies of the memo had been sent to Republican and Democratic members of the Intelligence panel and Paul Ryan's office. It is now up to the panel whether to release the memo to the public or not.

In a rare public statement on Wednesday, the FBI had said: "We are gravely concerned that critical facts are missing from the documents and has painted an inaccurate picture of how the bureau sought approval to conduct surveillance in the probe."

had earlier accused top FBI officials and the of "politicising" the memo on the probe into Russian interference in the US elections.

The four-page document has become a flashpoint in a wider battle between the Republicans and Democrats over Mueller's criminal probe into potential collusion between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and

The probe grew out of the FBI's investigation after fired FBI and Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation.

has denied meddling in the election campaign and has called Mueller's probe a "political witch hunt".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sat, February 03 2018. 02:30 IST