WASHINGTON (AP) – The appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the Russia investigation comes as questions grow over President Donald Trump’s firing of Mueller’s successor, James Comey.
Comey was fired last week as the FBI was investigating whether Trump’s presidential campaign associates had colluded with Russia to influence the outcome in his behalf.
Mueller’s broad mandate gives him oversight not only of the Russia probe, but also of “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.” That could well include the firing of Comey.
The appointment Wednesday followed news of Comey’s memo saying that Trump had asked him to shut down the FBI’s investigation into ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and his Russia ties.
A look at key moments in Comey’s tenure, the lead-up to Trump’s decision to fire him and developments since then.