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What Makes a Special Counsel ‘Special’?
Summary
The article discusses the role of special counsels in politically charged investigations. Special counsels are semi-independent federal prosecutors who have greater autonomy than regular prosecutors. They are subject to the supervision of the attorney general and can only be fired for misconduct. The article discusses the appointment of Jack Smith as a special counsel to oversee two criminal inquiries involving former President Donald J. Trump. It also discusses the difference between special counsels and independent counsels, and some of the notable special counsel investigations, including the investigation into Russian election interference and the investigation into the origins of the Russian inquiry.
Q&As
What is a special counsel?
A special counsel is a semi-independent federal prosecutor.
How are special counsels different from regular prosecutors?
Special counsels enjoy greater day-to-day autonomy than U.S. attorneys, even though they must obey Justice Department policies and remain subject to the oversight of the attorney general.
Is the appointment of a special counsel likely to delay the investigations?
The appointment is not expected to significantly draw out the inquiry.
Is a special counsel the same as an independent counsel?
No. Independent counsels no longer exist.
What are some other notable special counsel investigations?
In 2017, the Justice Department appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a retired former federal prosecutor and former F.B.I. director, to take over the investigation into Russian election interference and any ties to the Trump campaign.
AI Comments
👍 It's good that there is now a special counsel to investigate the criminal inquiries involving former President Donald J. Trump. This will help to ensure that the investigations are conducted in a fair and unbiased manner.
👎 The appointment of a special counsel is a waste of time and money. These investigations should be conducted by regular prosecutors who are subject to the regular chain of command.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about special counsels.
Friend: What are special counsels?
Me: They're like independent prosecutors.
Friend: Oh, like Robert Mueller?
Me: Yeah.
Friend: I see. So, what are the implications of the article?
Me: Well, I guess the main implication is that special counsels can be useful in cases where there might be a conflict of interest.
Action items
- Learn more about the role of a special counsel.
- Understand the difference between a special counsel and an independent counsel.
- Stay up to date on the latest developments in the investigation into former President Donald Trump.
Technical terms
- Special counsel
- a semi-independent federal prosecutor.
- U.S. attorney
- a prosecutor who represents the United States in legal matters.
- Justice Department
- the executive department of the United States government responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice.
- Independent counsel
- a prosecutor who is not subject to the control of the executive branch of government.