Republicans and Democrats embrace Robert Mueller as special counsel
Robert Mueller
CLOSE  Robert Mueller  will oversee the Russia investigation. Here's a look at  his  background. USA TODAY
 Then-FBI director Robert Mueller  testifies during a Senate Appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill on May 16  2013. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski  AFP/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON â A Congress utterly fractured by partisan bickering came to rare bipartisan agreement Wednesday night as members of both parties effusively praised the selection of  former FBI director Robert Mueller  as special counsel in charge of the FBI's investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer  D-N.Y. said  â Former Director Mueller  is exactly the right kind of individual for this job. I now have significantly greater confidence that the investigation will follow the facts wherever they lead."
House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz  R-Utah â who announced Tuesday that he was demanding from the FBI copies of memos written by former FBI director James Comey summarizing his conversations with President Trump â tweeted Wednesday that " Mueller  is a great selection. Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted."
House Speaker Paul Ryan  R-Wis.  said  "My priority has been to ensure thorough and independent investigations are allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead. That is what weâve been doing here in the House.  The addition of Robert Mueller as special counsel  is consistent with this goal  and I welcome  his  role at the Department of Justice."
Rep Adam Kinzinger  R-Ill.  called  Mueller  " a well respected and trusted veteran of the FBI" and said "this special counsel appointment is a step in the right direction on getting answers on the many questions we have with Russian meddling in our election and our democracy."
Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio tweeted: "The issue of Russian meddling in our election must be investigated fully & former FBI dir.  Mueller  is well qualified to oversee this probe."
On Wednesday  McConnell said "The decision by the Deputy Attorney General to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel confirms that the investigation into Russian intervention into our election will continue  as stated last week by Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will also continue its investigation into this matter."
Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr  R-N.C.  and Vice Chairman Mark Warner  D-Va.  issued a joint statement echoing McConnell's commitment to the committee's investigation.  Mueller 's selection "will provide some certainty for the American people that the investigation will proceed fairly and free of political influence â they wrote. The committee "will continue its own investigation and to the extent any deconfliction is required  we will engage with Director Mueller and our expectation is that he will engage with the Committee as well.â
Even as Democrats praised  Mueller 's credentials  many said they still plan to push for an independent commission  similar to the 9/11 Commission  to investigate Russian meddling in the election and issue a public report.
" Director Mueller  will still be in the chain of command under the Trump-appointed leadership of the Justice Department " said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi  D-Calif. "He cannot take the place of a truly independent  outside commission that is completely free from the Trump administrationâs meddling."
CLOSE   [TGT] will oversee the Russia investigation. Here's a look at   [TGT]   background. USA TODAY
  [TGT] testifies during a Senate Appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill on May 16  2013. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski  AFP/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON â A Congress utterly fractured by partisan bickering came to rare bipartisan agreement Wednesday night as members of both parties effusively praised the selection of  former FBI director Robert Mueller  as special counsel in charge of the FBI's investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer  D-N.Y. said   [TGT] is exactly the right kind of individual for this job. I now have significantly greater confidence that the investigation will follow the facts wherever they lead."
House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz  R-Utah â who announced Tuesday that he was demanding from the FBI copies of memos written by former FBI director James Comey summarizing his conversations with President Trump â tweeted Wednesday that "  [TGT] is a great selection. Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted."
House Speaker Paul Ryan  R-Wis.  said  "My priority has been to ensure thorough and independent investigations are allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead. That is what weâve been doing here in the House.   [TGT] is consistent with this goal  and I welcome   [TGT]   role at the Department of Justice."
Rep Adam Kinzinger  R-Ill.  called  Mueller  " a well respected and trusted veteran of the FBI" and said "this special counsel appointment is a step in the right direction on getting answers on the many questions we have with Russian meddling in our election and our democracy."
Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio tweeted: "The issue of Russian meddling in our election must be investigated fully & former FBI dir.   [TGT] is well qualified to oversee this probe."
On Wednesday  McConnell said "The decision by the Deputy Attorney General to appoint former FBI Director  [TGT]  as a special counsel confirms that the investigation into Russian intervention into our election will continue  as stated last week by Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will also continue its investigation into this matter."
Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr  R-N.C.  and Vice Chairman Mark Warner  D-Va.  issued a joint statement echoing McConnell's commitment to the committee's investigation.   [TGT]  's selection "will provide some certainty for the American people that the investigation will proceed fairly and free of political influence â they wrote. The committee "will continue its own investigation and to the extent any deconfliction is required  we will engage with Director Mueller and our expectation is that he will engage with the Committee as well.â
Even as Democrats praised  Mueller 's credentials  many said they still plan to push for an independent commission  similar to the 9/11 Commission  to investigate Russian meddling in the election and issue a public report.
" Director Mueller  will still be in the chain of command under the Trump-appointed leadership of the Justice Department " said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi  D-Calif. "He cannot take the place of a truly independent  outside commission that is completely free from the Trump administrationâs meddling."