Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel of the FBI's probe into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election is being welcomed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., The Hill reported.
"My priority has been to ensure thorough and independent investigations are allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead," he said in a statement. "This is what we've been doing here in the House."
"The addition of Robert Mueller as special counsel is consistent with this goal, and I welcome his role at Department of Justice. The important ongoing bipartisan investigation in the House will also continue," Ryan continued.
The Justice Department announced Mueller's appointment Wednesday, a day after The New York Times published a report alleging President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to stop an investigation into then-National Security Adviser Mike Flynn.
Trump said investigators will not find evidence of collusion between Russia and his 2016 campaign.
"As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know – there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity," he said in a statement.