USA TODAY International Edition
Special counsel will head Russia inquiry
Justice Department appoints former FBI director Robert Mueller
The Justice Department tapped former FBI director Robert Mueller to be a special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation, the department announced Wednesday.
The news comes as President Trump and his administration grapple with the fallout from explosive revelations this week that now- fired FBI director James Comey kept notes of a February meeting indicating Trump asked him to close the agency’s investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
The memo, on the heels of Trump’s abrupt firing of Comey last week, fueled accusations by lawmakers of possible obstruction of justice — and calls for an independent prosecutor to oversee the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into possible collusion between Trump campaign associates and Russia during the presidential campaign.
“I determined that it is on 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 Wednesday. “My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted.”
Based on the “unique circumstances,” Rosenstein said, “the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.”
After the Justice Department’s announcement, Trump on Wednesday night denied any collusion between his campaign and Russia and called for a quick end to the investigation.
“As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know — there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity,” Trump said in a short statement. “I look for-
ward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country.”
Mueller, who preceded Comey as FBI director, served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 under both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He was the longest serving director since J. Edgar Hoover, serving two years beyond his original 10- year term, to ensure stability during a transition period in President Obama’s national security team.
In his special counsel role, Mueller assumes all the powers of a federal prosecutor — including subpoena authority.
“I have determined that a special counsel is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome,” Rosenstein said. “Our nation is grounded on the rule of law and the public must be assured that government officials administer the law fairly. Special Counsel Mueller will have all appropriate resources to conduct a thorough and complete investigation, and I am confident that he will follow the facts, apply the law and reach a just result.”
The authority to appoint a special counsel fell to Rosenstein, after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia case because of his pre- election contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, which Ses- sions did not disclose during his Senate confirmation hearing.
Mueller, who joined law firm WilmerHale in 2014, will resign to avoid any conflicts of interest with firm clients or attorneys, the Justice Department said.
At the White House, administration officials Wednesday evening could be seen racing in and out of West Wing offices, formulating a response to the new development.
White House officials such press secretary Sean Spicer had said as recently as Tuesday there was no need for a special counsel.
Key Republicans lawmakers immediately welcomed the announcement. “Mueller is a great selection. Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted,” tweeted Rep. Jason Chaffetz, RUtah, chair of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform committee.
Democratic senators also welcomed the news. Sen. Tim Kaine, D- Va., who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in last November’s presidential election, called the announcement “a good move.”
“Now let’s get some answers,” he tweeted.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D- Calif., the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the appointment “a good first step.”
“Bob was a fine U. S. attorney, a great FBI director and there’s no better person who could be asked to perform this function,” she said in a statement.
Both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees are conducting their own investigations into Russia’s interference in the presidential election. The intelligence community has accused Moscow of orchestrating a campaign of cyberattacks against Democratic political organizations during the elections, and leaking them to websites such as WikiLeaks with the goal of undermining Hillary Clinton’s campaign and public confidence in the democratic process.
“I have determined that a special counsel is necessary. ... Our nation is grounded on the rule of law, and the public must be assured.” Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein