"I would've much rather had the Senate and House Intelligence Committees complete their report," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said. | AP Photo Mueller was appointed ‘far too soon,’ Wisconsin senator says

Special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed “far too soon” to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Sen. Ron Johnson said Sunday.

Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he is concerned a special counsel had hindered investigations by Intelligence panels in both the House and Senate.


"What I've always said about it was — the special counsel was named far too soon. I would've much rather had the Senate and House Intelligence Committees complete their report.”

"There, there are completely different goals of a special counsel versus congressional oversight. I think, in this case, the most important thing is public disclosure," Johnson said. "And that is harmed when you start having special counsels, and all the information is, is gathered and is held close and sometimes never disclosed."

Pressed by moderator Chuck Todd, Johnson said that Mueller, a former FBI director, should be kept in place and allowed to finish his inquiry.

“Again, I just thought he was appointed too soon. I would've rather had the process play out,” he said. “Because I think public disclosure, the public's right to know, is — trumps everything else.”

Johnson added that Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to appoint U.S. Attorney John Huber to investigate allegations of FBI misconduct, including its conduct during its investigation of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, is “the best case for the time being.”

"I've been conducting a three-year investigation on the FBI's investigation of Hillary Clinton. I think we're starting to see some real problems there," Johnson said. "And I just didn't think somebody so close, like Director Mueller, former Director Mueller, would be the, the right type of person to investigate that."

"Now, I'm actually pleased with the appointment of John Huber," he added. "He is a disinterested U.S. attorney to work with the Office of Inspector General."