Barr appoints special counsel in Russia probe investigation.
WASHINGTON - Attorney General William Barr has given extra protection to the prosecutor he appointed to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, giving him the authority of a special counsel to complete his work without being easily fired.
Barr told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham as a special counsel in October under the same federal statute that governed special counsel Robert Mueller in the original Russia probe.
Barr says Durham is authorized "To investigate whether any federal official, employee or any person or entity violated the law in connection with the intelligence, counter-intelligence or law enforcement activities" directed at the 2016 presidential campaigns, anyone associated with the campaigns or the Trump administration.
A senior Justice Department official told the AP that although the order details that it is "Including but not limited to Crossfire Hurricane and the investigation of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III," the Durham probe has not expanded.
Appointing Durham as a special counsel would mean that he could only be fired for very specific reasons under the law.
BREAKING #Durham This is a major development + reflects serious nature of the evidence WASHINGTON - Barr appoints Durham special counsel to keep investigating Russia probe origins under new administration.
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
William Barr just named John Durham as Special Counsel to continue spygate probe…
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