Russia probe under threat after Sessions fired: Democrats

NEW YORK, Nov 08 (Agencies): The US inquiry into alleged Russian meddling during the 2016 election could be under threat after President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions, top opposition Democrats say.
Nancy Pelosi, who leads Democrats in the House of Representatives, called the decision a "blatant attempt" to end or impede the investigation.
The probe has been criticised by Mr Sessions's successor Matthew Whitaker.
The Democrats, who won the House in the mid-terms, have vowed to protect it.
Some Republicans appear to have shared the Democrats' concern over the future of the inquiry, which is being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Senator Susan Collins and Mitt Romney said it should not be impeded in any way.
Mr Mueller is investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, resulting in a series of criminal charges against several Trump associates.
Mr Trump has vehemently denied any collusion took place, and repeatedly called for the inquiry to be shut down, calling it "the greatest political witch hunt in history".
Democrats see this latest move as an attempt to do just that.
"It is impossible to read Attorney General Sessions' firing as anything other than another blatant attempt by @realDonaldTrump to undermine and end Special Counsel Mueller's investigation," Ms Pelosi - a front-runner to become speaker of the House of Representatives following this week's mid-terms - tweeted.
She went on to argue that, "given his record of threats to undermine and weaken the Russia investigation", Mr Whitaker should follow in Mr Sessions' footsteps and recuse himself.
Her words were echoed by Democratic party Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who added: "Clearly, the president has something to hide."
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said on Thursday that the Washington investigation into alleged interference by Moscow in the 2016 US election was not Russia's problem after President Donald Trump sacked Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
"This investigation is a headache for our American colleagues, it has nothing to do with us," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists when asked if Session's firing would influence the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. More on Page 4