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Mueller learned of Trump attempt to stop Sessions recusal, NY Times reports

<p>Special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/special-counsels-russia-probe-loses-top-fbi-investigator/story?id=49249486" target="_blank">reassigned an FBI agent</a> working on the Russia probe this summer after the agent allegedly sent anti-Trump texts.</p><p>That top FBI agent, Peter Strzok also worked as an investigator in the Hillary Clinton email investigation. Multiple outlets report he's now working in human resources.</p><p>An internal investigation first reported on Saturday revealed text messages sent by Strzok could be seen as supporting Clinton.</p><p>A spokesperson for Mueller's office said, "Immediately upon learning of the allegations, the special counsel's office removed Peter Strzok from the investigation."</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/report-says-mueller-investigation-costs-top-5-million/">Here's How Much The Mueller Investigation Has Reportedly Cost So Far</a></b></p><p>Mueller seems to be trying to keep the stigma of bias off his investigation. Republicans <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mueller-calls-to-resign-gop_us_59f49c1fe4b07fdc5fbe77a7 " target="_blank">have accused him</a> of such in the past, saying his role as a former FBI director creates a conflict of interest.</p><p>President Donald Trump<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/937305615218696193 " target="_blank"> tweeted Sunday morning</a>, "After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters."</p><p>And “ANTI-TRUMP FBI AGENT LED CLINTON EMAIL PROBE” Now it all starts to make sense!"</p><p>The content of Strzok's text messages has not been publicly revealed. Law enforcement officials who have worked with Strzok told the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/us/politics/mueller-removed-top-fbi-agent-over-possible-anti-trump-texts.html?_r=0" target="_blank">New York Times</a> they've seen no evidence to suggest he let his political views influence the investigation.</p><p>Though, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/03/ex-mueller-team-members-role-in-clinton-probe-under-review.html" target="_blank">Fox News reports</a> the role Strzok played in the Clinton investigation may now be under review at the Department of Justice.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/us-withdraws-from-un-s-global-compact-for-migration/">US Withdraws From Global UN Pact Aimed At Helping Migrants</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/trump-s-lawyer-claims-responsibility-for-tweet-about-flynn/">Trump's Lawyer Claims Responsibility For The Tweet About Mike Flynn</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/report-says-mueller-investigation-costs-top-5-million/">Here's How Much The Mueller Investigation Has Reportedly Cost So Far</a></li></ul>
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Special counsel Robert Mueller is aware of an unsuccessful attempt by President Donald Trump to lobby Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to recuse himself from the Justice Department's Russia probe, The New York Times reported Thursday.

The Times, citing two people with knowledge of the episode, said Trump had ordered White House counsel Don McGahn last March to stop Sessions from recusing himself from oversight of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

At the time, Sessions faced mounting calls for recusal given his support for the Trump campaign and the revelation of an omission during his confirmation hearing about contacts with Sergey Kislyak, who was the Russian ambassador to the US at the time.

 

While widely reported on, the government did not confirm the existence of the investigation until then-FBI Director James Comey told the House Intelligence Committee later in March 2017 that there was an ongoing investigation into potential coordination between Trump's associates and Russia to influence the 2016 election.

Sessions announced he would recuse himself from all matters relating to the investigation in early March. Politicians, including Republicans, praised the decision at the time, but Trump has publicly rebuked his attorney general and said he wished Sessions had not recused.

The Times reported Thursday that after McGahn was unsuccessful at getting Sessions not to recuse, Trump became angry and said he needed an attorney general to protect him.

Sessions' recusal left Justice Department oversight of the probe to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed former FBI director Mueller to be special counsel after Trump fired Comey in May 2017.

Sessions said in summer 2017 he was "confident" he had made the right decision about recusal -- and as some Republicans called Thursday for his ouster, some top Democrats, in a major shift, have suggested Sessions should stay to avoid interference with the special counsel probe.