NEW YORK_President Donald Trump wanted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, who's investigating whether his campaign colluded with Russian officials in the election, last June, but didn't after the White House counsel threatened to quit, according to a report.
White House counsel Don McGahn refused Trump's order to ask the Justice Department to fire Mueller, and told other senior officials that it would raise more questions about the administration's potential involvement with Russia, The New York Times reported Thursday citing sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Mueller became aware the president wanted him fired through interviews his investigators had with current and former White House officials.
Trump backed out of the decision after McGahn told White House officials that the president wouldn't follow through, the Times reported.
Mueller has filed charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, his associate Rick Gates and ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn in his probe.
