By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, said the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into potential coordination between Russia and Donald Trump’s campaign will helpfully remove politics from the investigation.
“He has a great reputation. I think it’s a good move,” Kinzinger told CBS News. “Hopefully we can give the American people some peace as we get to the bottom of this. It’s going to take some time, but we have to move ahead now.”
He called Mueller “a well respected and trusted veteran of the FBI.”
Kinzinger was among many Republicans who had resisted calls for an independent investigation.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is still skeptical.
“The past 48 hours have shown the lengths that the President and his administration will go to hinder and halt this investigation, so I will withhold judgment pending its progress,” Durbin said in a statement. “The eyes of the nation are on Mr. Mueller and his team.”
Durbin’s Democratic colleague, Tammy Duckworth, applauded the choice.
“The appointment of a special counsel is a positive step to help protect our democracy and ensure the Trump administration’s ties to Russia are fully investigated,” Duckworth said in a statement. “Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation must be fully-resourced as well as remain independent and free of White House influence or interference in order for the American people to get the truth.”
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
