Gowdy: Mueller a ‘quintessential straight arrow’

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, says he still has faith in special counsel Robert Mueller despite accusations by some Republicans that the former FBI director is politicizing the Russia investigation. 

“I do have confidence in [Mueller]. I have confidence in the women and men he has assembled on this team,” Gowdy told the Wall Street Journal, saying that special counsel is “your quintessential straight arrow.”

Gowdy also said that he has refrained from developing a relationship with President Trump, because of his role on the oversight and intelligence committees, which are both investigating Russia’s role in the 2016 election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

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Gowdy took over Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s (R-Utah) role at the helm of the oversight panel this week. Chaffetz abruptly announced earlier this year that he would not run for re-election and that he would leave Congress at the end of June before his term is up.

Gowdy’s comments on Mueller come as some Republicans have cast doubt on the special counsel’s ability to conduct the Justice Department investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, citing his friendship with fired FBI Director James Comey and his early decision to hire investigators that have donated to Democratic political campaigns. 

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel last month just days after Trump’s abruptly fired Comey, who was previously charged with leading the law enforcement probe of Russian election meddling.

Mueller’s appointment was widely hailed by Democrats and Republicans as a fair and capable law enforcement official that would carry out the Russia probe free of political bias or interference. 

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that Mueller had expanded his investigation to include whether Trump himself attempted to obstruct justice, by allegedly pressing Comey and other intelligence officials to interfere in federal investigations.