Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the President announced that he would seek a two-year extension to the term of FBI Director Robert Mueller. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over the FBI.
"This is an unusual step by the President, and is somewhat of a risky precedent to set. Thirty-five years ago Congress limited the FBI director's term to one, 10-year appointment as an important safeguard against improper political influence and abuses of the past. There's no question that Director Mueller has proven his ability to run the FBI. And, we live in extraordinary times. So, I'm open to the President's idea, but I will need to know more about his plan to ensure that this is not a more permanent extension that would undermine the purposes of the term limit."
