Newt Gingrich: ‘Independent’ Investigator Needed for Trump-Russia Probe

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/newt-gingrich-independent-investigator-needed-trump-russia-probe-n726686

by Erik Ortiz
Feb. 28, 2017

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich wants a special investigator to review the Trump team's alleged contact with Russian officials during the campaign — one of the few prominent Republicans calling for such an examination.

Gingrich, when asked about the use of a special prosecutor Tuesday on Fox News, advised President Donald Trump to "take a lesson from the past" and assign a "very smart, independent person" to take on that investigatory role.

"Maybe somebody like Michael Mukasey, former attorney general [under George W. Bush] — put them in charge of the whole project, and say, you know, there are questions here, the country has questions, the media has questions, even members of Congress (have) questions," Gingrich said.

•••••

While Democrats have called for a special prosecutor or a select committee to investigate, most Republican lawmakers have stopped short of demanding such a move.

But Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif, said Monday that a special prosecutor could be warranted if there were allegations of wrongdoing.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday on TODAY that members of Congress' intelligence committees have begun a general investigation into the Russia-related reports.