Trump faces a fearless and popular inquisitor
THE Justice Department’s sprawling probe into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election just got a new boss. That’s good news for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) independence in the investigation.
And bad news for Donald Trump.
Former FBI director Robert Mueller was named special counsel in the Russia probe, with Mr. Trump himself only getting the news 25 minutes before it was announced. Praise for the pick was instant and bipartisan.
Mr. Mueller’s writ is expansive. He can look into the original questions about Trump team relations with Russia as well as fresh inquiries into Mr. Trump’s firing of James Comey, Mr. Mueller’s FBI successor. The two have worked closely in the past.
That’s where the bad news for Mr. Trump comes in: Not that Mr. Mueller would favor Mr. Comey, or necessarily find anything crippling for Mr. Trump, but that based on his straight- shooter reputation, he’ll ask lots of questions and won’t care where they lead him. Even if that’s directly into the Oval Off ice.
The move to make the former FBI director special counsel overseeing the Russia inquiry drew bipartisan praise and eased days of building political tension in Washington. It came as Mr. Rosenstein was preparing to brief senators Thursday about the investigation — and about his role in Mr. Trump’s abrupt dismissal of Mr. Comey as FBI chief last week.
“Mueller has unimpeachable integrity,” said Matthew Axelrod, a partner at Linklaters LLP who was a top aide to ex-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, an Obama administration holdover fired by Mr. Trump in January. “He’ll do the job thoroughly, doggedly and professionally, and that’s what you want.”
Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle also expressed relief and praise for the choice of Mr. Mueller.
“Mueller is a great selection,” Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said on Twitter after the decision was announced. “Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted.”
The decision reasserted the traditional independence of the FBI, which was tested by Mr. Comey’s dismissal. It also further distances the probe from Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a Trump confidant who recused himself from any role in the inquiry after it was reported that he failed to disclose conversations with Russia’s ambassador to the US.
For Mr. Trump, reeling amid allegations he sought a loyalty pledge from Mr. Comey and asked him to drop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, the move provided welcome short- term relief. It gave Republicans seeking less drama from the White House something to cheer. And it granted Democrats a key demand for the inquiry to be managed by someone untainted by White House ties. — Bloomberg