Chaffetz: Congress should provide oversight on special counsel probe

House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) on Wednesday said Congress must provide oversight on the special counsel assigned to the Russia investigation. 

“I think it’s also important, even though I’m departing Congress at the end of June, that the House of Representatives continue on because they have to provide oversight, not only on this matter, but also on the special counsel,” Chaffetz told CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

“The special counsel doesn’t get to continue on in perpetuity without any oversight. That’s what Congress is supposed to do on both the House and the Senate.”

{mosads}The Justice Department last week appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as special counsel on the investigation into Russia’s interference in the United States president election. Mueller’s appointment came about one week after President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who had been leading the bureau’s probe into Russia’s election meddling and any potential coordination between Trump campaign staff members and Russia.

Chaffetz, who spoke with Comey on Monday, said the dismissed FBI head told him he wishes to talk with Mueller before committing to a public testimony.

“That seemed to make sense to me, and I hope it’s fair to represent that Mr. Cummings understood that as well. I hope that’s a fair representation,” Chaffetz said, referring to Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who served as the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee.