Civic Register
| 5.17.17

Former FBI Director Mueller Tapped as Special Counsel for Russia Investigation

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Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has ordered the appointment former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to lead the Dept. of Justice’s probe into Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election.

(See also: What's an Independent Special Prosecutor?)

Rosenstein, serving as the acting attorney general because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe, offered the following statement:

"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. My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted. I have made no such determination. What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, 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.”

Mueller, who has resigned from his law practice to avoid conflicts of interest, served as FBI Director from 2001 to 2013. He’ll have 60 days to compile a budget that provides the resources needed for the investigation, which will be subject to Rosenstein’s approval. He will be tasked with investigating "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump" and “any other matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.” Mueller will have the authority to prosecute federal crimes uncovered by the investigation.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have expressed satisfaction with the move, as Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) demonstrated on Twitter:

What do you think of the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel? Click the "Take Action" button and tell your Reps!

-- Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: FBI / Public Domain)