Special counsel and team probing Trump campaign's Russia ties are 'bad people,' Gingrich says

— -- Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich spoke critically of special counsel Robert Mueller and his team and calling special counsels "very dangerous."

"I mean, these are people who are going to be after Trump," Gingrich told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" today, adding that he believes the investigation should be curtailed, given the political affiliations of those hired to work on the investigation.

Gingrich added that those who believe the investigation is going to be "neutral" and "professional" are "delusional."

Gingrich also said that Republicans in Congress "ought to look into" the fact that the first four people Mueller hired are Democrats, including one who worked for the Clinton Foundation. "He did not hire a single Republican in the first wave."

On May 17, Gingrich tweeted, "Robert Mueller is superb choice to be special counsel. His reputation is impeccable for honesty and integrity. Media should now calm down."

Gingrich said that he "began to change" his opinion when former FBI Director James Comey made an "arrogant statement" last week during testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee that he "felt he had the right to leak" information "specifically in order to get a special counsel."

"The special counsel happens to be his close friend," Gingrich added.

Gingrich said that he wrote his new book, "Understanding Trump," because "Trump represents a different world" from the "world of Washington."