Former FBI chief to investigate alleged Russian interference in 2016 election

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a federal investigation into his campaign's relations with Russia will find "no collusion", in quick response to the Justice Department appointment of former FBI chief Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the probe.

"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," Trump said in a statement which made no specific mention of Mueller's appointment.

"I look forward to this matter concluding quickly," Trump said.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a statement on Wednesday: "Considering the unique circumstance of this matter, however, I determined that a special counsel is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome.

"My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted," said Rosenstein, who had been overseeing the Russia probe following the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions due to his failure to disclose a meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Democratic lawmakers have been clamoring for Rosenstein to appoint a special prosecutor in the wake of reports on Tuesday that fired FBI director James Comey penned a memo documenting a request from Trump that he "let go" of the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

According to an appointment order released by the Justice Department, Mueller, who served as FBI director between September 2001 and September 2013, will have the authority to investigate whether the Russian government colluded with individuals associated with Trump's campaign and to prosecute federal crimes uncovered in the probe.

Also on Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued requests to both the White House and the FBI for all the records about the conversations between Comey and Trump. Trump had previously suggested that there may be tapes of his talks with Comey in the White House one day after Flynn resigned over the scandal in February.

Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee set a hearing date for May 24 over Comey's memo, asking him to testify.

The Senate Intelligence Committee also sent a request on Wednesday to Comey, asking him to testify in a public hearing and to meet with its members in a closed-door briefing.

The Senate panel also sent a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe requesting "any notes or memorandum" prepared by Comey tied to talks he had with White House or Justice Department officials about the FBI's probe into Flynn's ties with Russia.

Republican Senator John McCain likened the unfolding scandal around Comey's memo to Watergate which led to the impeachment of president Richard Nixon in 1974, while House Speaker Paul Ryan called for patience, noting that lawmakers "need the facts" before drawing any conclusions.

Despite the White House denial, the latest allegation feeds the flames that have been grilling Trump since his abrupt firing of Comey, distracting his agenda while plunging his administration into a snowballing credibility crisis.

Xinhua