Ethics officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly advised acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's investigation into Russia's election interference, but Whitaker does not plan to do so.

The Washington Post and CNN reported that ethics officials advised Whitaker to recuse himself in the investigation for the sake of appearances.

Earlier reports that said Justice Department ethics officials told him he did not need to step aside from the investigation.

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The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill on Thursday after The Associated Press and CNN, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter, reported that Whitaker did not need to recuse.

Both CNN and The Washington Post later reported that a Justice official earlier in the day had indicated that Whitaker did not need to recuse because there was no legal requirement for him to do so. Later, a senior official reportedly told the news outlets that Whitaker was advised to recuse, for reasons of appearance rather than a legal conflict.

Whitaker has been in discussion with DOJ ethics officials since being tapped for the role in November. It is not clear when Whitaker will make an official announcement about the recusal, although it may be later Thursday.

Trump tapped Whitaker to be the acting attorney general in November after announcing that former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE had resigned.

The decision meant that Whitaker, who has publicly criticized certain elements of the Mueller investigation, would now oversee it. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had been overseeing the probe since Sessions recused himself in early 2017.

Rosenstein later dismissed concerns over Whitaker’s appointment, saying the investigation will continue to be "handled appropriately."

Several Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about Whitaker's oversight of the Mueller probe based on his previous comments.

"What raises my concerns is a person that's been so vocal against the investigation that was going on is [put] in charge a day after the election," Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinManchin defends Supreme Court candidate Barrett: 'It's awful to bring in religion' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House MORE (D-W.Va.) said in November. "I think that gives concern to every senator, Democrat and Republican. We are a country — the rule of law is everything."

Earlier this month, Trump nominated William Barr to be the next attorney general on a permanent basis. Barr would oversee the Russia investigation if confirmed.

--This report was updated at 6:15 p.m.