Conservative lawmakers introduced a resolution on Friday calling for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to recuse himself from the Russia probe, citing the fact that he was the head of the FBI while a “corruption” theory involving the Uranium One deal happened.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tx.) say Mueller should step down from his position as special counsel because he ran the FBI in 2010 when the Uranium One deal was finalized.
The deal has been a major talking point for Republicans and President Donald Trump in recent weeks as Mueller has ratcheted up his investigation by indicting former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates and announcing that a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, George Papadopolous, admitted that he lied to the FBI about contacts he had with people close to the Russian government.
The deal has been propped up as a quid-pro-quo exchange, according to some on the far-right. The theory goes that then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton approved the deal–which allowed for Russia to control a portion of the United States’ uranium deposits–in exchange for a cash flow into the Clinton Foundation.
Mueller, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the time of the deal, didn’t sufficiently investigate the matter, according to the conspiracy theory.
The conspiracy theory has been debunked numerous times.
“These deeply troubling events took place when Mr. Mueller was the Director of the FBI. As such, his impartiality is hopelessly compromised. He must step down immediately,” Gaetz said in a statement.
While these conservatives have called for Mueller’s resignation, other (more prominent) Republicans have expressed support for the special counsel.