Republicans in Congress have been asking Sessions to appoint a second special counsel to investigate a battery of matters surrounding the Russian collusion investigations. While Sessions announced in his March 29 letter that he won’t be appointing a special counsel, at least for now, he revealed that he had appointed a federal prosecutor months ago to investigate the same matters.
In November last year, Sessions assigned U.S. Attorney John Huber to lead the case. Huber has been cooperating with Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who has 470 investigators at his disposal, Sessions noted.
While establishment media focused on the fact that Sessions is not appointing a special counsel, the appointment of a federal prosecutor is “brilliant” because it combines the powers of the inspector general with a prosecutor to seek indictments and get quick results for Trump, according to George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, a top national legal expert on special counsels and congressional investigations of government wrongdoing.
“I think people are missing what could be a brilliant move here by Sessions,“ said Turley, in an interview with Fox News. ”What he did is he essentially combined the powers of the inspector general with the powers of a line prosecutor.”
In February, Trump called on Sessions to appoint a Justice Department lawyer to investigate “massive FISA abuse.” Sessions had done just that months before Trump called for it. The president was likely not informed of Huber’s appointment since the investigation is politically charged and should remain impartial.
Huber’s legal authority as a U.S. attorney allows him to impanel a grand jury anywhere in the United States. Additionally, Huber, based in Utah, is far away from what Trump refers to as the Washington “swamp.” “That distance between him and Washington is very important,” Turley said.
The investigator general’s recommendations based on the probe have already resulted in the firing of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. The final report by Horowitz has not yet been released.
Sessions also emphasized that he still reserves the option to appoint a special counsel.
“I receive regular updates from Mr. Huber and upon the conclusion of his review will receive his recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, or whether any matters merit the appointment of a Special Counsel,” Sessions wrote.
