as chairman of the committee with primary oversight of the department of justice and the f.b.i., i have always supported the department and the f.b.i. in performing their valuable missions to keep our nation safe and to hold individuals accountable for criminal conduct. yet i and many on this committee now find ourselves in the difficult position of questioning the actions of both prior and current department and f.b.i. leadership. you have a unique role at the department of justice in that you appointed special counsel mueller and have a supervisory role over his investigation. it is very appropriate for you to appear before this committee to answer questions with related to the scope of the special counsel's investigation and current efficacy in light of various events calling into question its impash talt. reports on the political pre-disposition and bias of certain career agents and department lawyers on special counsel mueller's team are