Michael Dreeben, the deputy solicitor general who represents Mueller, told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker taking charge of the Russia probe ”neither alters the special counsel’s authority to represent the United States nor raises any jurisdictional issue.”

Whitaker took over as acting head of DOJ earlier this month when President Donald Trump forced Jeff Sessions’ resignation.

“The Special Counsel continues to exercise the same authority, and the jurisdiction of the district court and this Court is intact,” Dreeben added in his 17-page legal brief.