New York State Republican chairman Ed Cox on Tuesday blasted special counsel Robert Mueller for handing down indictments against former campaign aides to President Trump a week before local elections.
In some New York races, Democrats have been trying to tie Republican candidates to Trump.
“Announcing these indictments a week before the elections? Are you kidding me?There’s no doubt this will impact elections,” Cox fumed.
“By the timing of the indictments Mueller is playing into the hands of Democrats across the country. He’s blotting out our ability to get our message out.”
“In a blue state it’s going to have a bigger impact,” said Cox.
In the hotly contested race for Westchester County executive, the New York State Democratic Committee sent out mailings linking Republican incumbent Rob Astorino to Trump, putting their images next to each other in the shell of a pea pod with the headline, “PEAS IN A ROTTEN POD.”
Cox said the Justice Department is usually sensitive to announcing criminal charges just before elections.
“They had to be aware of the basic sensitivity to the Justice Department. “You’re not supposed to be political. They just got political.”
Because he was a Trump campaign adviser, Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. Mueller was appointed the special prosecutor after Trump sacked former FBI Director James Comey.
Mueller spokesman Peter Carr declined comment when asked about Cox’s criticism.