WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee says he would "not carry out" any order to fire special counsel Robert Mueller without cause.
William Barr is testifying at his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. His comments about an attempt to fire Mueller were in response to a question from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
Mueller's team is examining potential ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. Barr says he wants Mueller to finish the investigation.
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions drew the president's ire after removing himself from the Russia investigation because of his previous work with the Trump campaign. Sessions resigned at the president's request in November.
MORE: Read Attorney General nominee Barr's prepared Senate testimony