Posted on May 17, 2017
Robert Mueller to oversee Russia election probe as special counsel
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SPECIAL COUNSEL READ OF THE DAY
The Justice Department announced Wednesday it has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into the probe of alleged Russian influence of the 2016 presidential election.
The appointment came amid a growing Democratic outcry for someone outside the Justice Department to handle the politically charged investigation.
“In my capacity as acting Attorney General, I determined that it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authority and appoint a Special Counsel to assume responsibility for this matter," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a statement. "My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted.”
Senior DOJ officials told Fox News the White House was informed of the decision for a pecial counsel after the order had been signed, through the White House Counsel’s office, about an hour before the decision went public.
The Justice Department said Mueller has resigned from his job at a private law firm to take the job of special counsel.
The decision by the DOJ followed the revelation Tuesday that fired FBI Director James Comey wrote in a memo that President Trump had asked him to end an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
TRUMP AND THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION: WHAT TO KNOW
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called the appointment a "great selection."
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., praised the decision by the DOJ, calling it "a victory for all Americans."
“This is a victory for all Americans who believe in the integrity of the rule of law," he said. "This investigation must be given the full resources and independence it needs to succeed. We must follow the facts wherever they lead, and demand complete accountability for any wrongdoing that is found.”
Mueller is the former FBI Director who did a two year extension under President Obama beyond his 10-year fixed term before retiring in 2013.
He became FBI Director shortly before 9/11, and was at the heart of turning the FBI into a counter terrorism and counter intelligence operation.
Muller, along with his then-deputy James Comey, threatened to quit over the Bush administration surveillance.
Muller's notes were used at the time to back up Comey's version of events, when they were questioned by the Bush White House.
Some Republicans however expressed concern over the decision by the DOJ due to the wide scope of the influence that special prosecutors have.
"I'm worried with all special counsels because there's no control over them and they can abuse their power," Rep. Peter King of New York told the Associated Press.
In the 1990s, Democrats insisted that independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who investigated former President Bill Clinton, overstepped his authority.
Fox News' Jake Gibson, Catherine Herridge and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Justice Department announced Wednesday it has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into the probe of alleged Russian influence of the 2016 presidential election.
The appointment came amid a growing Democratic outcry for someone outside the Justice Department to handle the politically charged investigation.
“In my capacity as acting Attorney General, I determined that it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authority and appoint a Special Counsel to assume responsibility for this matter," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a statement. "My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted.”
Senior DOJ officials told Fox News the White House was informed of the decision for a pecial counsel after the order had been signed, through the White House Counsel’s office, about an hour before the decision went public.
The Justice Department said Mueller has resigned from his job at a private law firm to take the job of special counsel.
The decision by the DOJ followed the revelation Tuesday that fired FBI Director James Comey wrote in a memo that President Trump had asked him to end an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
TRUMP AND THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION: WHAT TO KNOW
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called the appointment a "great selection."
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., praised the decision by the DOJ, calling it "a victory for all Americans."
“This is a victory for all Americans who believe in the integrity of the rule of law," he said. "This investigation must be given the full resources and independence it needs to succeed. We must follow the facts wherever they lead, and demand complete accountability for any wrongdoing that is found.”
Mueller is the former FBI Director who did a two year extension under President Obama beyond his 10-year fixed term before retiring in 2013.
He became FBI Director shortly before 9/11, and was at the heart of turning the FBI into a counter terrorism and counter intelligence operation.
Muller, along with his then-deputy James Comey, threatened to quit over the Bush administration surveillance.
Muller's notes were used at the time to back up Comey's version of events, when they were questioned by the Bush White House.
Some Republicans however expressed concern over the decision by the DOJ due to the wide scope of the influence that special prosecutors have.
"I'm worried with all special counsels because there's no control over them and they can abuse their power," Rep. Peter King of New York told the Associated Press.
In the 1990s, Democrats insisted that independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who investigated former President Bill Clinton, overstepped his authority.
Fox News' Jake Gibson, Catherine Herridge and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Robert Mueller to oversee Russia election probe as special counsel
Posted from foxnews.com
Investigation
Russia
Elections
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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By all accounts former FBI Director Mueller is a good man and he seems to have been given enough leeway to do the job assigned to him. We can expect lots of unexpected twists and turns in this story and not all of them will affect President Trump negatively.
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