Mueller Investigation Update: Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker Says Investigation "is about to be completed"

Washington – The investigation of special advocate Robert Mueller is "about to be completed," Interim Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said on Monday. his first press conference since since taking office of the Department of Justice in 1945, in November 2018, Whitaker also said that he had been "fully informed" of Mueller's investigation.

"Currently, you know, the investigation is going on I hope we can get the report from the director Mueller as soon as possible," said Whitaker.

A spokesman for the bureau of the Special counsel declined to comment on Whitaker's comments.

Mueller's investigation into the investigation Russian interference in the 2016 campaign and possible links with the Trump campaign have started in May 2017, shortly after the brutal dismissal of President Trump, the FBI's director, Jam His investigators have laid indictments against several Trump associates, most recently Roger Stone, indicted on Friday for lying to Congress and falsifying a witness.

Whitaker oversees Mueller's investigation at the head of the police. Department of Justice. His predecessor, Jeff Sessions was recused from the investigation in March 2017 on matters concerning his own contacts with the Russian Ambassador during the 2016 campaign.

When Whitaker became acting Attorney General, he had to face immense pressure Democratic legislators also asking him to recuse himself from his involvement in Mueller's work because of comments he had made about the investigation as a private citizen in 2017. Whitaker had argued that the investigation was to be limited, at some point claiming that its budget should be reduced "so low that its investigation almost stops".

On Monday, Whitaker seems to be away from these critics.

"The statements I made were private in nature, with only publicly available information," Whitaker said. "And, you know, I'm convinced that the decisions that have been made will be reviewed, as you know, by the different means we have."

President Trump nominated William Barr for the permanent replacement of Whitaker. Barr served as Attorney General during the first Bush administration and held his Senate confirmation hearings earlier in his month, where he declared that he was "of vital importance "for Mueller's work to succeed.

Paula Reid and Andy Triay contributed to the reports.