Title: Here’s What a Special Counsel Means in the Russia Investigation - The New York Times
Headings: Here’s What a Special Counsel Means in the Russia Investigation
Here’s What a Special Counsel Means in the Russia Investigation
What is within Mr. Mueller’s jurisdiction?
What is a special counsel?
Is Mr. Mueller fully independent?
What are the limits of a special counsel’s autonomy?
How might the requirement to obey department practices matter?
Can Mr. Rosenstein overrule Mr. Mueller’s decisions?
What about firing him?

Content: While the Supreme Court upheld this arrangement, critics said it allowed the prosecutor to run amok. Republicans learned to hate the arrangement during the Iran-contra investigation into the Reagan administration, and Democrats did, as well, during the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky investigations into President Bill Clinton. When the independent counsel law expired in 1999, Congress did not renew it. Instead, the Justice Department during the Clinton administration issued internal regulations enabling the attorney general to appoint a special counsel. But there appears to be room for potential conflict over how to interpret those regulations. Sarah Isgur Flores, a Justice Department spokeswoman, noted that there was scant precedent to scrutinize when interpreting the 1999 regulations because only one previous special counsel was appointed under them. Image
Robert S. Mueller III was F.B.I. director for 12 years. Credit...
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
That case involved misconduct by law enforcement officials, not a national security matter. What are the limits of a special counsel’s autonomy? Although Mr. Rosenstein’s letter says Mr. Mueller is authorized “to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters,” it also says he is subject to the special counsel regulations.