Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., once called for legislation to protect then-special counsel Robert Mueller to ensure that his Russia investigation would continue unimpeded, but now he is railing against Attorney General William Barr’s appointment of a special counsel to continue investigating the FBI’s actions in the early stages of that same Russia probe.
Barr recently announced that prior to November’s election, he named Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham as special counsel for the investigation of the Russia probe that Durham was already leading. As a U.S. attorney, Durham is subject to being relieved of his duties when President-elect Joe Biden takes office. His investigation could also be shut down by the next administration.
As special counsel, however, Durham would enjoy a degree of added independence, as he could only be fired by an attorney general or someone acting in that capacity.
“Barr is using the special counsel law for a purpose it was not intended: to continue a politically motivated investigation long after Barr leaves office,” Schiff said in a Tuesday statement.
During Mueller’s investigation, however, Schiff was eager to protect the special counsel’s office at all costs to ensure Mueller could continue the Russia probe without interference.