Story highlights Robert Mueller was appointed as special counsel last week to lead the Russia probe

Mueller was appointed FBI director by President George W. Bush in 2001 and served until 2013

Washington (CNN) The Justice Department has determined that former FBI Director Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election complies with ethics rules.

Questions about Mueller's appointment were raised last week in light of the fact that his former law firm, WilmerHale, represents President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who both work in the White House, as well as former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Federal ethics regulations prohibit government employees from participating in cases involving their former employer in certain circumstances.

On Tuesday, the Justice Department declined to say the regulations apply to the "matters to which Special Counsel Mueller was appointed," but nevertheless concluded Mueller's appointment to lead the Russia probe is valid.

"(W)e can confirm that the department ethics experts have reviewed the matters and determined that Mr. Mueller's participation in the matters assigned to him is appropriate," the Justice Department said in a statement on Tuesday.

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