Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures during a speech at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. (Photo: AP)
President Donald J. Trump reacted to ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller’s appointment as special counsel to probe alleged Russian meddling in election.
“As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know – there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity,” President Trump said in a statement. “I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country.”
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller after The New York Times reported on a leaked memo allegedly written by fired FBI director James Comey. The Times and others reported President Trump asked Comey to end the investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
But the Times quoted the memo as saying he “hoped” Lt. Gen. Flynn wasn’t prosecuted because he was a “good man,” to which Comey replied he agreed he was a good man.
Deputy Rosenstein said his decision was not driven by evidence of a crime, but rather due to public confidence in the investigation.
“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,” Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein said in a statement. “My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted.”
As People’s Pundit Daily previously reported, legal experts on the right and left said reaction to the alleged Comey memo was overblown and the story was oversold. Further, even if true, the memo raises more questions about the actions of Mr. Comey than President Trump.
Mr. Mueller, who will oversee the bureau’s investigation of Russian actions during the 2016 presidential election, has 60 days to put together a budget and submit it to Rosenstein. The Justice Department said Mueller has resigned from his job at a private law firm to take the job of special counsel.
