Former FBI Head Mueller to Oversee Russia Probe

The Justice Department appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the FBI probe of Russian interference in the election, multiple news outlets reported Wednesday. That probe includes any potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

The appointment comes roughly one week after President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey, citing a memo by deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein that criticized Comey's handling of the Clinton email 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," Rosenstein said in a statement.

"My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted. I have made no such determination," the statement continued. "What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.''