Justice Department ethics experts Tuesday cleared Robert Mueller to lead the Russia probe, The Washington Post reported.
Mueller previously worked for a law firm in Washington which represents Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and Paul Manafort. Government officials are barred from participating in matters involving former employers for a year unless they receive a waiver to do so under a federal ethics regulation.
But the firm's general counsel told the Post last week Mueller had no involvement in Manafort, Trump or Kushner’s representation.
Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores told the Post ethics officials had reviewed the case and "determined that Mr. Mueller's participation in the matters assigned to him is appropriate."
Mueller, a former FBI director, was appointed as special counsel last week after The New York Times report alleged President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to stop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn a day after his resignation.