Why was U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara fired? It's a big unanswered question after the hard-charging prosecutor was fired for refusing President Trump's order to resign. His removal comes just days after he was asked to look into something highly sensitive to the President himself. Political Reporter Josh Robin explains.

Preet Bharara looked happy back then.

It was November 30. He just met with President-elect Trump.

He wasn't going to be Hillary Clinton's attorney general — but he would remain the nation's most high-profile U.S. Attorney.

"The President-elect asked, presumably because he's a New Yorker, and is aware of the great work that our office has done over the past seven years, asked me to discuss whether or not I would be prepared to stay on as United States attorney to do the work as we have done it," Bharara said. "I agreed to stay on."

Stay on he did. The next day, a former top aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo was in court.

In late February, Mayor Bill de Blasio met with Bharara's attorneys in a pay-to-play probe. 

Those investigations, touching the two Democrats, surely cheered the President. 

But other topics apparently on Bharara's radar may strike closer to the Commander-in-Chief.

Bharara reportedly was looking into settlements Fox News made with employees who charged former  CEO Roger Ailes with sexual harassment.

And Thursday, Trump ally Sean Hannity had a message to his mutual admirer in the oval office:

"Tonight it's time for the Trump administration to purge these saboteurs, before it's too late," Hannity said.

Meanwhile, last Thursday, well-known ethics leaders wrote Bharara to examine foreign money flowing into President Trump's business enterprises.

Whether Bharara was looking into those connections remains unclear. Trump says he has given up control of his business empire, but many say not enough. Trump spokespeople did not return messages.

Then there's the Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — Bharara's former boss — who is fighting Trump's agenda, drawing ridicule from the White House. 

"This executive order was mean-spirited," Schumer said in January about the President's travel ban.

"I noticed Chuck Schumer yesterday with fake tears," Trump shot back the next day. "I'm going to ask him who is his acting coach."

Could firing Bharara also be payback to Schumer?

It's not just Democrats criticizing the President's decision to fire Bharara, who has put members of both parties in handcuffs.

The top Republican in the state Assembly calls it dumb — adding "I sincerely hope whomever is chosen to take his place demonstrates the same courage and abilities."