Chaffetz sees no ‘actual crime’ for special Russia counsel to investigate

House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) on Wednesday broke with the broad bipartisan consensus supporting the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Prior to the Department of Justice appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel, most Republicans held off from backing the need for a special appointment. However, on Wednesday night a growing number quickly endorsed the move as a path forward on investigating Russia’s election interference in the midst of an increasingly muddled investigation. Trump fired the man leading the investigation at the FBI, former Director James Comey, last week. The president’s actions raised questions about the independence of the probe as well as additional allegations of interference by the White House.

“I don’t think they should have actually appointed somebody,” Chaffetz said on Fox News, while also praising Mueller’s credentials.

Chaffetz said that he was blindsided by the Justice Department’s decision to appoint a special counsel on Wednesday night.

“[I am] very surprised by it. No heads-up. I don’t think the Speaker’s office got a heads up. … It caught us totally out of the blue,” he said.