Trump considered Mueller for FBI director before he was named special counsel: report

President Trump was considering former FBI Director Robert Mueller to replace James Comey atop the bureau before Mueller was named as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian election interference, NPR reported Friday. 

Mueller met with Justice Department and White House officials about leading the FBI again after Trump fired Comey in early May, the report said.

But when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein named Mueller as the special counsel to oversee the Russia probe, he was removed from contention.

{mosads}Mueller previously served as the FBI director under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He began serving in the role just days before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and when Obama came into office, he extended Mueller’s 10-year term by two years. 

Trump on Wednesday announced his intention to nominate Christopher Wray to serve as the new FBI director via Twitter. 

“I will be nominating Christopher A. Wray, a man of impeccable credentials, to be the new Director of the FBI,” the president tweeted early Wednesday morning. 

I will be nominating Christopher A. Wray, a man of impeccable credentials, to be the new Director of the FBI. Details to follow.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2017

Wray served as an assistant attorney general who oversaw the criminal division under former Bush before entering private law practice at the firm King & Spalding.