Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Vote On Mueller Protection Bill

A Senate committee delayed consideration of a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller. 

The legislation was on the Senate Judiciary Committee's agenda Thursday, but Chairman Chuck Grassley announced several members had asked for a delay. 

That bipartisan bill would define who is allowed to fire Mueller — or any future special counsel. And it would also require the termination be for "good cause."

The committee will likely add an amendment to the bill before sending it to the full Senate, but it's facing an uphill battle after that. 

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's already said it will never see the Senate floor, calling the bill unnecessary. And House Speaker Paul Ryan has similarly said there's no need to protect Mueller.

"We do not believe that he should be fired. We do not believe that he will be fired, and we therefore don't think that that is necessary," Ryan said during a press conference Tuesday.

And even if the bill does pass both the House and the Senate, it would still need President Donald Trump's signature to become law — something McConnell has said is unlikely.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.