The Latest: GOP senators say Mueller probe should play out

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation (all times local):

1:30 p.m.

Congressional Republicans say the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller needs to run its course despite President Donald Trump's call for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to shut it down.

The No. 3 Senate Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, says Trump "has his own way of conveying his views." But he adds, "Most of us up here believe the process needs to play out, and it will."

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said many "wish the Mueller investigation would go away," but adds, "that's not going to happen."

Trump tweeted that Sessions "should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now." Democrats say Trump's tweet is evidence he is obstructing justice.

Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said there would be "chaos" in Congress if Trump were to act against Mueller.

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10 a.m.

President Donald Trump says his attorney general should put an end to special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Trump is making his views known in a series of tweets as the trial of his onetime campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, enters its second day in a Virginia courtroom. He's on trial for bank fraud and tax evasion charges.

The president says Attorney General Jeff Sessions "should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further."

But Sessions stepped aside last year from overseeing Mueller's inquiry, and it's Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who's taken over that duty.

Trump is trying to distance himself from Manafort, who led Trump's efforts to secure the GOP presidential nomination in 2016. Trump tweets that Manafort "He worked for me for a very short time."

Manafort was the campaign chairman for about five months in 2016.