Poll: Most Americans support passing a law to protect Mueller

A majority of Americans support Congress passing a law to block President Trump Donald John TrumpSchiff: Nunes gave Trump 'secretly altered' version of memo Davis: ‘Deep state’ existed in ’16 – but it elected Trump Former Trump legal spokesman to testify to Mueller about undisclosed call: report MORE from unilaterally ordering the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller Robert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE, according to a poll released Thursday.

A Monmouth University Poll found 62 percent of Americans support requiring a panel of federal judges to approve Mueller’s firing. A bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate last year that would implement such a process.

A separate bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate last year that would allow Mueller or any other special counsel to challenge their firing in court.

Democrats and some Republicans have consistently called for protections for Mueller while he conducts an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and any possible coordination with the Trump campaign.

Those calls were renewed in recent days following a report that Trump sought to fire Mueller last summer, but was stopped. The president has often railed against the special counsel’s investigation, calling it a “hoax” and “witch hunt.”

Mueller’s probe has thus far led to two indictments and two guilty pleas.

Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsTrump officials take heat for declining Russia sanctions Key senator floats new compromise for immigration talks Senate sends sexual abuse reporting bill to Trump's desk MORE (R-Maine) said Sunday it “wouldn’t hurt” to pass legislation protecting Mueller.

But other top Republicans brushed off concerns over the need to block Trump from firing Mueller.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Hill's 12:30 Report Disciplined, SOTU Trump can disappear with the speed of a tweet Republicans head to West Virginia to plot 2018 agenda MORE (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he doesn’t see a need to bring up legislation on the matter, adding that Mueller “appears to need no protection.”

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyA pro-science approach to Yucca Mountain appropriations Dem whip pushes back on 'four pillars' approach to Dreamers Senate group preparing to pitch immigration ideas MORE (R-Calif.) said taking up such a measure is not necessary “right now.”

The poll was conducted via telephone from Jan. 28-30 and includes responses from 806 adults. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.