Democrats encouraged, Republicans mixed about special counsel on Russia investigation

Record ID: 876412

  • Title: Democrats encouraged, Republicans mixed about special counsel on Russia investigation
  • Date: 18th May 2017
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2017 17:00
  • Keywords: SENATOR MARK WARNER SENATOR SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL SENATOR SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM SENATOR ORRIN HATCH Senate Russia Donald Trump
  • Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0046HDA9MV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Democrats on Thursday (May 18) applauded the Justice Department's appointment of a special counsel to investigate possible ties between President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, while Republicans have called the step both welcome and unnecessary.
    Former FBI chief Robert Mueller was named as special counsel on Wednesday (May 17).
    Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller after a succession of jarring developments that brought questions over Russia's alleged meddling in the election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign to a boil.
    They included Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, reports that Trump had previously pressured Comey to end a probe of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Trump discussing sensitive information on Islamic State with the Russian foreign minister.
    Rosenstein, the No. 2 Justice Department official, named Mueller amid mounting pressure in Congress for an independent investigation beyond existing FBI and congressional probes into the Russia issue.
    Mueller's appointment was not expected to affect the FBI or congressional investigations.
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