In an impromptu interview with The New York Times on Thursday, President Donald Trump said he is in control of the Department of Justice and the future of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia.

“I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department,” Trump told reporter Michael Schmidt. “But for purposes of hopefully thinking I’m going to be treated fairly, I’ve stayed uninvolved with this particular matter.”

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Trump went on to say Mueller and Congress’ investigations into Russia make “the country look very bad” and puts “the country in a very bad position.”

“The sooner it’s worked out, the better it is for the country,” the president said.