Robert Mueller, the newly appointed special counsel in the investigation into Russia, will likely ask the multiple congressional investigations to curtail their public hearings in order to proceed with his own investigation, according to a Thursday New York Times report.

Five different Senate and House committees also have ongoing investigations into whether Russia interfered in the presidential election and possibly colluded with President Trump campaign aides.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller Wednesday night, about a week after Trump abruptly fired FBI Director James Comey.

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Comey's dismissal raised questions about the timing and motives as the agency continued its probe into Russian ties to Trump.

The New York Times reported earlier this week that Trump asked Comey in February to drop his investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn and his ties to the Kremlin.

Comey reportedly kept a paper trail to document what he perceived to be the president's improper attempts to influence his investigation.

Rosenstein met with lawmakers Thursday afternoon in a closed-door meeting to discuss the recent turn of events.

Democratic lawmakers — Sen. Claire McCaskill Claire Conner McCaskillDemocratic-linked group runs ads in Kansas GOP Senate primary Trump mocked for low attendance at rally Missouri county issues travel advisory for Lake of the Ozarks after Memorial Day parties MORE (D-Mo.) and Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks MORE (D-Ill.) — said Thursday Rosenstein acknowledged that he knew the president’s plans to fire Comey a day before he publicly announced the dismissal.