A former F-B-I director has been given sweeping power to investigate Russian interference in the U-S presidential election.
The U-S Justice Department has given Robert Mueller a broad mandate that could encompass any questionable actions of President Donald Trump's associates.
It could even cover the circumstances of last week's abrupt firing of Mueller's successor, James Comey.
The appointment of a special counsel is an acknowledgment of growing public demands to place the politically charged investigation in the hands of an outside investigator.