Blumenthal, Trump Battle Over Russian Investigation

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal is proposing legislation that would stop the president from firing the special counsel investigating allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

At a press conference Monday, Blumenthal said the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is on a “collision course” with the president, and that Mueller needs autonomy.

“Protecting Robert Mueller’s independence is vital to his credibility and capability to uncover the truth about criminality at the highest levels,” Blumenthal said.

The measure would create a three-judge panel to review the president's decisions regarding the special counsel.  It would also prevent Trump from firing the special counsel without "good cause."

But Blumenthal’s idea appears to have caused immediate backlash from the president.

Before Blumenthal addressed the media in Hartford, he appeared on CNN to discuss Trump’s alleged dealings with Russia.

Trump responded on Twitter by calling Blumenthal a “phony Vietnam con artist” who told stories about his "Vietnam battles, conquests [and] how brave he was."

Back in 2010, Blumenthal acknowledged that he misspoke when he previously used language that suggested he served in Vietnam. When asked about the tweets, Blumenthal tried to steer the talk back to his message.

“Our national security and the rule of law are at stake, and I’m not going to be distracted or bullied by these slurs,” Blumenthal said.

Beyond that, Blumenthal wouldn’t address the president’s tweets.