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RACINE — Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said Friday afternoon that Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian influence in the 2016 presidential campaign, should step down.

“He should resign,” said Johnson, who is chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “I take the position that we shouldn’t have a special counsel at this time. We should let the (congressional) committees do their work.”

In speaking to The Journal Times Editorial Board on Friday, Johnson said Mueller should resign because of the FBI’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s private email server along with recent information regarding sales of U.S. uranium while Mueller was FBI director.

Johnson said the Clinton investigation by the FBI was “not an investigation by the FBI designed to get the truth leading to an indictment and a conviction.”

“It was an investigation, primarily to exonerate,” Johnson said. “(Mueller is) too close to Comey,” referring to then-FBI Director James Comey.

Johnson said the Mueller investigation is impeding the Senate and House investigations into the Russian influence in the presidential election.