- Title: Special counsel named to investigate Trump-Russia ties
- Date: 17th May 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 7, 2017) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE) ROD J. ROSENSTEIN, THE NOMINEE TO BECOME DEPUTY U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND RACHEL L. BRAND, THE NOMINEE TO BECOME ASSOCIATE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, TAKING AN OATH AT THE START OF A CONFIRMATION HEARING OF THE SENATE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROD J. ROSENSTEIN, THE NOMINEE TO BECOME DEPUTY U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN AN EXCHANGE WITH SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SENATOR CHARLES GRASSLEY, AND SAYING: GRASSLEY: "How would you handle such an investigation? Have you ever discussed with the Attorney General the appointment of a special prosecutor to handle such an investigation?" ROSENSTEIN: "Well, how I would handle an investigation, senators, is the way I would handle any investigation. As far as I'm concerned, every investigation conducted by the Department of Justice is an independent investigation. We prosecute tens of thousands of people every year and every one of those defendants deserves an independent prosecutor. And so, I would be certain that we had independent investigators to conduct those investigations, along with law enforcement agents who are trained to conduct their investigations in an appropriate way, and comply with the statutes, the regulations, the Constitution, and the policies of our law enforcement agencies. And so, that's where I would do that, Senator. With regard to the special counsel, in this or other cases, I know this is the issue du jour on Capitol Hill. But I anticipate that if I were the deputy attorney general, we'd have a lot of matters coming before the department over time and I would approach them all the same way. I would evaluate the facts and the law, consider the applicable regulations, consult with career professionals in the department, and then exercise my best judgment -- if I were acting attorney general, or provide my best advice to the attorney general if he were not recused, about what I believe is the right course of action."
- Embargoed: 1st June 2017 00:13
- Keywords: investigation Russia Trump
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C.; TUCSON, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C.; TUCSON, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0036H8B1HJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday (May 17) appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate possible collusion between President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign team and Russia as well as alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election.
The move followed a week of turmoil for the White House amid rising demands for an independent probe of alleged Russian efforts to sway the outcome of November's presidential election in favor of Trump and against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Pressure has been building on Trump since his firing last week of James Comey, chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who had been leading a federal probe into the matter.
U.S. intelligence agencies said earlier this year that Russia interfered in the U.S. election. Moscow has dismissed the allegations, and the Trump team has denied any collusion with Russia.
The controversy has caused an uproar in Washington and on Wall Street where the S&P 500 and the Dow had their biggest one-day declines since September as investor hopes for tax cuts and other pro-business policies faded amid the political tumult.
Democrats in Congress and some of Trump's fellow Republicans had called for an independent investigation. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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