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Continetti: For Republicans, Impeaching Trump Not Likely a 'Tool They're Going to Use'

Washington Free Beacon editor in chief Matthew Continetti said that Republicans would strongly protest President Donald Trump firing special counsel Robert Mueller.

But, Continetti said in a Friday evening interivew, Republicans would not have many tools to check him besides impeachment.

Continetti appeared on MSNBC's "MTP Daily" with Katy Tur, where he discussed Republicans potential reactions if Trump removed Mueller. He said that Republicans would definitely protest but would find themselves in a difficult position.

"I think a lot of Republicans would protest very strongly," Continetti replied to Tur's question about the possibility of Trump firing Mueller. "The question is what they would do after they registered their protests."

"The truth is they don't really have many tools at their disposal to check the president," he said.

"They have impeachment," Tur pointed out.

"Right, and I don't think that's the tool they're going to use in this case," Continetti said.

Tur asked what the line for impeachment would be. Continetti said that Republicans would be hesitant to go that far.

"It's very hard to say," he answered. "As long as they're in charge of the Congress -- as one of your earlier guests was saying, these are polarized times and Republicans are sticking together."

Continetti pointed out that Republican lawmakers are still not strongly supportive of the Russia investigation.

"They also agree with Trump in some respects in the sense that the Russia investigation is a distraction, so he has kind of support among Republicans, and certainly his voters, on that case," he said. "So I think there would be major protests, I think a lot of Republicans would caution the president not to fire Bob Mueller, but after that, I don't think they have many tools at their disposal."