Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein said he is satisfied with the work of special counsel Robert Mueller in the investigation into Russian election interference.

Rosenstein — who appointed the special counsel in May for the probe into Russia's election interference and would have the authority to fire him — said he couldn't expand because the investigation is ongoing.

“When we conduct criminal investigations -- just as was true in Maryland - we don’t talk about the investigation while it’s ongoing," he said.

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"So what the American people will see is only if and when a case is charged. And there are several cases that have been charged to date.”

He said the special counsel has a "degree or autonomy from the Department of Justice."

"But there is appropriate oversight by the department," he told the publication.

"That includes budget. But it also includes certain other details of the office. It is part of the Department of Justice. And we’re accountable for it.”

Rosenstein appointed the special counsel after attorney general Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMoore gets boost from Bannon in final days of campaign Overnight Regulation: Feds push to clarify regs on bump stocks | Interior wants Trump to shrink two more monuments | Navajo Nation sues over monument rollback | FCC won't delay net neutrality vote | Senate panel approves bill easing Dodd-Frank rules Mueller lieutenant sent email saying he was proud of Sally Yates MORE recused himself from the federal investigation into Russia's efforts to interfere in the election.

Last week, former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents in one of the most dramatic developments yet in Mueller's investigation.

As part of the plea agreement, Flynn has agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation. For the time being, at least, he will remain free — although the charge he faces carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

A low-level campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, has also pleaded guilty to lying to investigators and is cooperating with Mueller's team.

Two other campaign officials, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his aide Richard Gates, also face charges in the investigation. They have both pleaded not guilty.

Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia and has in the past referred to the Russia investigation as a "witch hunt."

In recent days, Trump has also taken to attacking the FBI. Over the weekend, Trump tweeted that he had to fire Flynn because he lied to the vice president and the FBI, adding that Flynn's actions during the transition were "lawful."

In another tweet, Trump said people are asking what the Justice Department is "going to do about the fact that totally Crookef Hillary,AFTER receiving a subpoena from the United States Congress, deleted and “acid washed” 33,000 Emails? No justice!"

He also claimed he never asked former FBI director James Comey to stop investigating Flynn and said the FBI's reputation is in "tatters" after years of Comey running it.