Sen. Mike Lee tweets Trump: Nominate Merrick Garland to replace Comey

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Sen. Mike Lee tweets Trump: Nominate Merrick Garland to replace Comey

 By Nolan D. McCaskill  and Seung Min Kim
  | 05/11/17 10:09 AM EDT

Utah Sen. Mike Lee encouraged President Donald Trump on Thursday to resist Democrats’ calls for a special prosecutor to lead an investigation into potential collusion between Trump associates and Russian officials.

Instead, the Republican senator suggested the president name a replacement for fired FBI Director James Comey who could get Democratic support in the Senate, which would have to confirm Trump’s nominee to a 10-year term.

“Instead of a special prosecutor, @realDonaldTrump should nominate Merrick Garland to replace James Comey,” Lee tweeted.

While the tweet is seemingly facetious, a Lee spokesman said the senator raised the prospect with the White House on Wednesday. The reception by White House staff was mixed.

“I think it has some advantages to it because as you point out this is someone who has a lot of bona fides as a prosecutor,” Lee told Fox News in an interview later Thursday. “This is a prosecutor’s prosecutor, and he’s someone who’s got likely allies as a potential FBI director nominee in both political parties.”

Fellow Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) signaled her support for Garland via Twitter but said a special prosecutor is still necessary.

“Good idea @SenMikeLee,” she tweeted. “Former prosecutor Merrick Garland for FBI Director is great idea. Need special prosecutor too.”

Former President Barack Obama nominated Garland to the Supreme Court in the final year of his presidency. Garland, however, was blocked by Senate Republicans, who maintained that voters should have a say in who filled the seat left vacant by the death of Antonin Scalia.

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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/11/merrick-garland-replace-james-comey-mike-lee-tweet-238261?lo=ap_c1