Even as Democrats praised the Justice Department’s decision to appoint Robert Mueller as special counsel, they continued to push for an independent commission.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the House minority leader, issued a statement that said, “A special prosecutor is the first step, but it cannot be the last. … [Mueller] cannot take the place of a truly independent, outside commission that is completely free from the Trump Administration’s meddling.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), while still calling for an independent commission, acknowledged that Mueller’s appointment may have “taken some of the pressure off” Republicans to get on board.

“They hadn’t been signing on already, so I think they will say, well this is taken some of the pressure off for them,” Cummings said. “But let’s be clear, the Republicans cannot afford to stand on the sidelines and allow anybody to do anything to be above the law, none of us can.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, added that Mueller’s appointment in no way affects the need for an independent commission.

“An independent commission doesn’t govern the FBI investigation, an independent commission doesn’t make charging decisions,” Schiff argued.

“The value an independent commission adds is you have a body that is truly independent of any political consideration. And also has all the resources it needs and a single focus on the oversight of what Russia did, how we need to respond in the future, and it brings that political independence and staff and resources on task. So those are two different needs, and I think they’re complementary, not in competition with each other.”

Other Democrats agree.

Robert Mueller's appointment as #SpecialCounsel is critical first step, but independent commission & Congressional oversight is still needed pic.twitter.com/H22pfo3KoM — Michael F. Bennet (@SenBennetCO) May 17, 2017

Personally urging my Republican colleagues to back an independent investigation into #TrumpRussia. It's time we stood against this together. pic.twitter.com/TRV6xLz6sX — Rep. Scott Peters (@RepScottPeters) May 17, 2017

"We also need independent investigative body to fully explore how we protect our democracy from meddling." — @RepGaramendi on @CNNSitRoom — John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) May 17, 2017

Mueller does not erase the need for an independent commission. #ProtectOurDemocracy pic.twitter.com/q3ev9tfMWf — Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) May 17, 2017

Glad Dept. of Justice is responding to crisis, but to have full confidence in #Russia investigation, we need an independent commission. — Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) May 17, 2017