Christie: Mueller probe has been 'effective so far'

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) defended special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE's probe into Russia's election meddling on Monday, saying that "you can't argue the investigation hasn't been effective so far." 

In an appearance at the University of Chicago, Christie said he has repeatedly told President TrumpDonald John TrumpBill Kristol resurfaces video of Pence calling Obama executive action on immigration a 'profound mistake' ACLU says planned national emergency declaration is 'clear abuse of presidential power' O'Rourke says he'd 'absolutely' take down border wall near El Paso if he could MORE that "there’s no way to make an investigation like this shorter, but there’s lots of ways to make it longer."

"He’s executed on a number of those ways to make it longer," Christie said. 

Christie's comments come as tensions ramp up between Mueller and his Republican critics, with Trump calling the investigation a witch hunt and calling for an investigation into whether the FBI or Department of Justice surveilled his campaign for political reasons.

Christie, a former U.S. attorney, vouched for Mueller, calling him nonpartisan, honest and hardworking. He also pointed to the multiple guilty pleas and indictments as evidence that the investigation has been effective. 

"I don’t question Bob Mueller’s honesty or his integrity, never have, and having worked with him for years, I still wouldn’t," Christie said. 

“If anyone did infiltrate or surveil participants in a presidential campaign for inappropriate purposes, we need to know about it and take appropriate action," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a statement.

Christie's defense comes as congressional Republicans seek documents related to an FBI informant who met with multiple people in Trump's campaign. Intelligence officials have argued doing so would threaten lives and national security.