High-profile supporters of President Donald Trump are turning on special counsel Robert Mueller, the man charged with investigating Russian interference in the US election and possible collusion with Trump's campaign.
As Mueller builds his legal team, Trump's allies have begun raising questions about the former FBI director's impartiality, suggesting he cannot be trusted to lead the probe.
The comments come amid increasing frustration at the White House and among Trump supporters that the investigation will overshadow the president's agenda for months to come.
"Republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair. Look who he is hiring," tweeted former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an informal Trump adviser.
Just weeks ago, Gingrich had heaped praise on Mueller, hailing him as a "superb choice" for special counsel whose reputation was "impeccable for honesty and integrity".
But after the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey last week, Gingrich said he'd changed his mind.
"Time to rethink," he tweeted Monday, citing Mueller's hiring decisions and Comey's admission that he had passed along notes he'd taken of his private conversations with Trump in order to force the appointment of special counsel.
Conservative commentator Ann Coulter offered a similar message, tweeting, "Now that we know TRUMP IS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION, Sessions should take it back & fire Mueller."
Going even further was Trump friend Chris Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax, who suggested the president was already thinking about "terminating" Mueller in an interview with Judy Woodruff of PBS NewsHour.
"I think he's considering perhaps terminating the special counsel," said Ruddy. "I think he's weighing that option."
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