Democrats encouraged, Republicans mixed about special counsel on Russia investigation

Record ID: 876415

  • Title: Democrats encouraged, Republicans mixed about special counsel on Russia investigation
  • Date: 18th May 2017
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) U.S. SENATOR ORRIN HATCH (REPUBLICAN-UTAH) WALKING DOWN HALLWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR ORRIN HATCH (REPUBLICAN-UTAH) SAYING: "I think it's a good idea. I don't see any need for one right now. But but I think it's a good idea because it will get this off the front page and get us into a serious discussion of it? REPORTER: Why do you say you know you don't see any need for it? HATCH: I don't see any breaking of the law or any other problems. But then again I don't know. So we need to see what happens and watch for the facts and then go from there." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (DEMOCRAT- CONNECTICUT) SAYING: "I'm very confident that Bob Mueller will do the right thing here. Follow the evidence wherever it may lead. There is mounting evidence structural justice and impropriety and illegality that preceded this administration may have continued while it's in power." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (REPUBLICAN-SOUTH CAROLINA) SAYING: "Disappointed in many ways that the Congress may be taken out of the game now because we're a public venue. I thought Yates and Clapper were good. I thought Sally Yates was an excellent witness. I thought Clapper provided insight to the public that we all need to know, so hearings like that are probably off the table, so, too bad."
  • 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: LVA0016HDA9MV
  • 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.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register