“I see it as a positive thing, especially having Bob Mueller involved,” Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) told POLITICO. | Getty Republicans jump on special prosecutor bandwagon

Lawmakers in both parties hailed Wednesday’s appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Russia’s election meddling — a shift in Republican sentiment after allegations President Donald Trump sought to shut down a related probe.

For Democrats, the move amounts to a major victory. Many of them demanded that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appoint a special prosecutor in the wake of James Comey’s firing as FBI director last week – and vowed not to vote to confirm a successor to Comey until the demand was met.


And for Republicans, Mueller's appointment underscores the extent to which the mood is changing when it comes to investigating Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. Most Republicans previously opposed the appointment of a special prosecutor — but a number had expressed more openness to it following allegations Tuesday that Trump told Comey to shut down the FBI’s investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

And key Republicans jumped on the special prosecutor bandwagon on Wednesday after the announcement that former FBI Director Robert Mueller had been named to oversee the Russia investigation. The probe includes looking into allegations of coordination between Moscow and the Trump campaign.

“I see it as a positive thing, especially having Bob Mueller involved,” Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said. “It brings a lot of public credibility to whatever process they go through.”

Burr, whose committee is leading its own investigation, had previously opposed the appointment of a special prosecutor. The investigations being conducted by the House and Senate Intelligence Committees into Russia’s election meddling are expected to continue running in parallel to the FBI investigation now overseen by Mueller.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) both signaled support for the naming of a special prosecutor, with McConnell noting that the Senate Intelligence panel would “also continue its investigation into this matter.”

“My priority has been to ensure thorough and independent investigations are allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead,” Ryan said in a statement. “The addition of Robert Mueller as special counsel is consistent with this goal, and I welcome his role at the Department of Justice.”

GOP Rep. Darrell Issa also praised the move.

“I view it as good and what we’ve been waiting for and I think it sends the right message that Mueller will go where the facts lead,” said the California congressman and former chairman of the House Oversight Committee. “It was inevitable.”

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, also appeared to endorse the move, saying it shows the Trump administration is taking the investigation “seriously.”

As for Mueller, Meadows said the pick appears to be more favorable to Democrats than Republicans.

“I think he comes with more credibility on the Democrat side than the Republican side,” the congressman said. “But he has credibility on both sides.”

Some Republicans also acknowledged the decision would take some heat off of them as they try to focus on passing a GOP agenda. Republican lawmakers for days have been ducking for cover from reporters peppering them with questions about Trump’s latest controversies.

“I think it takes the issue off the table for the time being,” Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.) told reporters Wednesday night. “We’re trying to separate fact from fiction and we’re getting asked by all of you, respectfully, ‘Should an independent commission be established?’ ‘What about an independent prosecutor?’”

Costello added: "It’s one less question that we have to answer about an extremely confounding and contentious issue that a lot of people are politicizing.”

Other Republicans lauded Mueller, who served as FBI director for 12 years under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Mueller “has sterling credentials and is above reproach,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “Because of his experience leading the FBI for more than a decade, Mr. Mueller has established relationships with FBI agents and will be able to move forward quickly. He is well respected on both sides of the aisle and will inspire public confidence in the investigation.”

House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) also praised the Mueller pick, saying he is confidence he will “serve with integrity and professionalism, and will conduct a thorough and fair investigation.”

Senate Democrats also lauded the decision to appoint a special prosecutor.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Wednesday that Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, had “done the right thing” by appointing a special prosecutor.

“Former Director Mueller is exactly the right kind of individual for this job,” Schumer said. “I now have significantly greater confidence that the investigation will follow the facts wherever they lead."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called Mueller "a respected public servant of the highest integrity.” But Pelosi added that she still wanted an independent commission to investigate Trump’s Russia ties.

Mueller "cannot take the place of a truly independent, outside commission that is completely free from the Trump Administration’s meddling,” Pelosi said in a statement. "A special prosecutor does not negate the need for vigorous congressional investigations either."

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), who’s leading the House investigation into Russia’s election meddling, said he does not expect the special prosecutor to affect his ongoing probe.

“I don’t think so. We’ll see. My guess is no,” he said. “We never had criminal prosecutorial tools and if we found something, we’d have to turn it over to Justice anyway.”

Conaway said he doesn’t know Mueller personally but that he “has a great reputation in the industry.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, called Mueller’s appointment “a good first step” for getting to the bottom of Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential election and allegations of coordination with the Trump campaign.

“I know Bob Mueller. I knew him as a United States attorney in San Francisco when I was mayor. I knew him as … FBI director,” Feinstein told reporters. “He’s a stalwart, wonderful man and I think he’ll be a great special counsel.”

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) noted that the appointment of Mueller, who was twice unanimously confirmed as FBI director by the Senate, would make it easier for senators to install Comey’s successor at the bureau.

“He’s a well-respected law enforcement professional,” Cornyn said of Mueller.

The news, like other revelations in the Russia affair this week, stunned Capitol Hill — with senior Republicans such as Cornyn and Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) saying they had gotten no advance notice of the appointment.

As the decision was being announced, Rosenstein and acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe were seen leaving a secure meeting room in the Capitol, where they had been briefing senior members of Congress.

Not every lawmaker felt the appointment was necessary, however.

"It's fine, but there's absolutely no need for it," said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.). "Generally, there's a crime. In Watergate, there was a crime. In the [Monica] Lewinsky case, there was a crime. There's no crime here."

Burgess Everett, John Bresnahan, Heather Caygle, Elana Schor, Seung Min Kim, Kyle Cheney, Ali Watkins and Rachael Bade contributed to this report.

