Breaking: Fmr FBI Director Robert Mueller Special Counsel appointed in Russia probe

Posted on May 17, 2017 by SouthernGirl2

Washington (CNN)The Justice Department on Wednesday appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, including potential collusion between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller to the position in a letter obtained by CNN. Attorney General Jeff Sessions previously recused himself from any involvement in the Russia investigation due to his role as a prominent campaign adviser and surrogate.

As special counsel, Mueller is “authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters,” according to the Justice Department order Rosenstein signed.
Mueller’s appointment aims to quell the wave of criticism that President Donald Trump and his administration have faced since Trump fired FBI Director James Comey last week in the middle of the FBI’s intensifying investigation into contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials. That criticism swelled on Tuesday evening as excerpts of a memo Comey wrote in February surfaced, in which Comey writes Trump asked him to drop the FBI investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

That news intensified demands from Democrats on Capitol Hill for the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel or prosecutor to oversee the case. Republicans on Tuesday evening began to join those calls.

“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,” Rosenstein said in a statement, adding that the decision is “not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted.”

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
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49 Responses to Breaking: Fmr FBI Director Robert Mueller Special Counsel appointed in Russia probe

  11. SouthernGirl2 says:
    May 19, 2017 at 2:52 pm

    #Russia Two bombshells dropped one after another. @nytimes & @washingtonpost! It’s on & poppin

    Reply
  21. rikyrah says:
    May 17, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    Dan Rather says today is when the damn broke

    Reply
  22. rikyrah says:
    May 17, 2017 at 8:56 pm

    Maddow says NYT has named that Special Prosecutor in Virginia against Flynn – this guy’s specialty?

    ESPIONAGE

    Reply
  24. rikyrah says:
    May 17, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    Trump Team Knew Flynn Was Under Investigation Before He Came to White House

    WASHINGTON — Michael T. Flynn told President Trump’s transition team weeks before the inauguration that he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign, according to two people familiar with the case.

    Despite this warning, which came about a month after the Justice Department notified Mr. Flynn of the inquiry, Mr. Trump made Mr. Flynn his national security adviser. The job gave Mr. Flynn access to the president and nearly every secret held by American intelligence agencies.

    Reply
  34. rikyrah says:
    May 17, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    Comey and Yates were his mentees

    Reply

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