Rep. Trey Gowdy, the new chair of the House Oversight Committee, is keen on keeping a distance from President Trump due to the ongoing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential ties to the Trump campaign and is a fan of the man running the federal probe.

During an interview with the Wall Street Journal this week, Gowdy, R-S.C., said that given his involvement in committees running exploring issues involving the president that it would be "better for everyone involved" if he kept his distance from Trump.

Gowdy's reluctance to sit down with the president stands in contrast to the last chairman of the oversight panel, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who met Trump one-on-one earlier this year.

Gowdy also praised special counsel Robert Mueller as being "your quintessential straight arrow," which is notable as Trump is reportedly looking to fire Mueller.

"I do have confidence in [Mr. Mueller]. I have confidence in the women and men he has assembled on this team," Gowdy said. The Wall Street Journal report said Gowdy, a former prosecutor, is more in favor of law enforcement leading criminal investigations, as opposed to congressional panels. It was reported by the Washington Post this week that the federal probe is now looking at whether Trump committed obstruction of justice in trying to hinder the investigation.