Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III Makes Statement on Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election

"Two years ago, the Acting Attorney General asked me to serve as Special Counsel, and he created the Special Counsel’s Office.

The appointment order directed the office to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.  This included investigating any links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign.

I have not spoken publicly during our investigation.  I am speaking today because our investigation is complete. The Attorney General has made the report on our investigation largely public.  And we are formally closing the Special Counsel’s Office.  As well, I am resigning from the Department of Justice and returning to private life.

I’ll make a few remarks about the results of our work.  But beyond these few remarks, it is important that the office’s written work speak for itself..."
Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller

The Special Counsel Investigation After the Attorney General’s Resignation

"Recent Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership changes have raised questions about their impact on the special counsel investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election and related matters. Who will oversee the investigation? How do personnel changes affect the investigation? What are Congress’s possible roles in this matter? Before his resignation, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions had recused himself from the inquiry with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein serving as Acting Attorney General for the investigation. With President Trump’s designation of Matthew G. Whitaker as Acting Attorney General pending Senate consideration of his nominee for Attorney General, supervision of the special counsel investigation may change in the coming months, possibly impacting ongoing litigation regarding the special counsel’s authority. This Sidebar examines how DOJ leadership changes may interplay with the special counsel investigation.

Authority to Oversee the Special Counsel’s Investigation.

In 1999, pursuant to its general authority to promulgate departmental regulations, DOJ issued the current special counsel regulations, which expressly vest authority to initiate special counsel investigations in “[t]he Attorney General, or in cases in which the Attorney General is recused, the Acting Attorney General.” Thus, as the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has affirmed, the Attorney General has authority over special counsel investigations but, if he recuses, the Acting Attorney General has authority. That authority includes review of particular aspects of the investigation; review and approval of the special counsel’s annual budget requests; and sole authority to discipline or remove the special counsel for “good cause.”
Special Counsel Investigation