DOJs Weissmann Joining Muellers Russia Investigation Team, Sources Say
- Andrew Weissmann oversaw VW, bank cases during Obama era
- Loss of fraud chief leaves another senior post vacant at DOJ
Andrew Weissmann, head of the Justice Departments fraud section, is joining special counsel Robert Muellers team of investigators probing possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to people familiar with the matter.
Weissmann is the most senior government official to join Mueller, the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director who became special counsel on May 17, said two people, who asked not to be named discussing a personnel matter that hasnt been made public.
Mueller recently brought on Peter Carr, a veteran spokesman for the Justice Department, to deal with the news media. He also hired at least two lawyers from his former law firm, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP.
Weissmanns specialties have included corporate fraud and foreign bribery. For two and half years, he has overseen investigations into Volkswagen AG over diesel-cheating, global banks over market manipulation and Brazils state-owned oil company Petrobras over corrupt payments.
Weissmann previously worked for Mueller as the FBIs general counsel from 2011 to 2013.
He also has experience with special investigations, having worked on and later managed the Enron task force during the George W. Bush administration.