Josh Machiavello introduces U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert Jr. at the Grassroots America-We the People, meeting Tuesday night at Holiday Inn in Tyler. (Rick Flack/Freelance)

U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert criticized the special counsel who investigated alleged coordination between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia and praised the current U.S. attorney general.

Gohmert made the comments Tuesday night to more than 100 people at a gathering of the Grassroots America–We the People political action committee. Based in Smith County, the PAC endorses political candidates.

He criticized the special counsel, Robert Mueller, for his tenure as the FBI director. He said Mueller got rid of FBI agents who had decades of experience while he was director.

“You don’t want someone with 20 or 30 years saying, ‘Sir, we tried that 16 years ago and it was a disaster,’” Gohmert said. “You don’t want that. You want young people that will come in and salute you.”

Gohmert also criticized Mueller for how he handled the Russia investigation. Mueller’s team delivered the report to the attorney general in March, and a redacted copy was released to the public Thursday.

Gohmert encouraged the crowd to read an extensive opinion piece on Hannity.com with his views on Mueller. He said he predicted for two years, based on his opinion of Mueller, that the Russia investigation would go on for a long time, even after people started predicting it would end.

“I guarantee you, if Mueller has his way, he’s going to keep dragging this out,” Gohmert said of his thoughts. “He’ll drag it through the 2018 elections. I said there’s no way (it’ll end soon). this guy wants to affect elections. He wants to ruin Trump.

“He’s going to drag it out as long as he can, and I personally believe if Jeff Sessions had still been the attorney general he would have carried this on through the 2020 elections,” Gohmert said.

He said he was concerned when Trump appointed William Barr to be attorney general earlier this year, but has been pleasantly surprised by Barr’s performance.

Gohmert also poked fun at his reputation on Capitol Hill and nationally for disagreeing with other politicians and saying sometimes unpopular things.

“I’m not worried about allegations that I’m the dumbest guy in Congress,” Gohmert said. “I wish they would use more syllables. Dumbest? That’s the best you got?”

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