Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is looking add a bipartisan bill to Thursday's legislative schedule that would block President Trump's ability to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller without cause. The legislation is a combination of two previous bills that have been lingering in the Senate for months.
WaPo:
Grassley ... has asked for ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein’s sign-off to make a last-minute addition of the bill to the committee’s Thursday agenda, a move that would set up an April 19 vote on the legislation. A spokesman for Feinstein (D-Calif.) said that the senator needs to review the bill before making a decision.
The legislation, from Sens. Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), would let Mueller, or any other special counsel, receive an "expedited judicial review" within 10 days of being fired to determine if it was for a "good cause." If it wasn't, the special counsel would be reinstated.
The measure would also codify existing regulations that only a senior Justice Department official can fire a special counsel and that they must provide the reason in writing.
WaPo:
The bill further stipulates that during the 10-day period, no documents or materials related to the counsel’s investigation could be destroyed or staffing changes made.
Tillis told The Hill that he wasn't certain the bill would be able to get a vote on Thursday but said it would "certainly" happen "here in the next week."
(...)
If the bill passes out of committee it would also put pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to let the legislation come up for a vote.
McConnell on Tuesday said he saw no need for a vote on legislation protecting Mueller because he doesn't believe Trump will fire him.
WaPo:
In the past several weeks, Grassley had been urging negotiators to move faster toward striking a final agreement on compromise legislation, according to other aides. He is also planning to offer an amendment to the bill requiring the president to give Congress advance notice of his intention and report the reasons for firing a special counsel, much like the requirements for firing an inspector general.
The amendment would be in addition to the procedures outlined in the compromise bill and are designed to give Congress a fallback political opportunity to take steps — including and up to impeachment — to protect a special counsel if the courts strike down parts of the bill, presuming it becomes law.
Senate panel moves to take up bill protecting Mueller (The Hill)
Judiciary chair wants vote on special counsel bill next week (WaPo)