The Justice Department has appointed a special counsel to oversee a federal probe into possible ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
- Former FBI Director Robert Mueller tapped as special counsel
- Dems have pushed for lead investigator outside Justice Department
- RELATED: House committee leader wants Comey to testify next week
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller will lead the investigation, the department said early Wednesday evening.
Democrats have been pushing for a special counsel from outside the Justice Department.
The appointment comes a day after news reports that ousted FBI Director James Comey crafted a memo detailing a February conversation between him and Trump that said Trump had asked him to shut down an FBI investigation into former Trump aide Michael Flynn.
Trump issued the following statement Wednesday: "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. 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."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.