Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump delivered a statement after the Justice Department appointed a special counsel to oversee the investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives."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," the White House statement read on Wednesday evening. "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."
The statement follows Wednesday's announcement that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the investigation into the allegations of collusion between Trump's surrogates and Russia during the 2016 presidential election.
"My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted," Rosenstein said in a DOJ statement. "I have made no such determination. 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."
Following FBI director James Comey's abrupt firing last week, lawmakers have been calling for the appointment of a special counsel to take over the growing investigation. Mueller's appointment has received bipartisan support.
"The appointment of Bob Mueller as special counsel for the Russia investigation is a good first step to get to the bottom of the many questions we have about Russian interference in our election and possible ties to the president," read a statement from Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said he welcomes Mueller as special counsel and said the House Intelligence Committee's investigation would also continue.