Balancing Independence and Accountability: Proposals to Reform Special Counsel Investigations

Authors

Lawrence Keating, Fordham University School of Law
Steven Still, Fordham University School of Law
Brittany Thomas, Fordham University School of Law
Samuel Wechsler, Fordham University School of Law

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Democracy and the Constitution Clinic

Volume

January

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

Investigations of the president and other high-ranking officials must be free from political interference yet cannot devolve into “runaway” inquiries. This report recommends reforms to the rules for every stage of special counsel investigations. Among the proposals is a requirement that federal judges oversee the attorney general’s appointment and removal of special counsels. Additionally, a special counsel should be mandatory when the president is suspected of a crime and reports on investigations should go directly to Congress.

Recommended Citation

Lawrence Keating, Steven Still, Brittany Thomas, and Samuel Wechsler, Balancing Independence and Accountability: Proposals to Reform Special Counsel Investigations, January (2021)
Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/faculty_scholarship/1111