Attorney General Jeff Sessions disappointed several leading figures in the Republican Party when, instead of announcing a second special counsel to investigate alleged wrongdoing in the Justice Department and FBI, he revealed Utah’s top federal prosecutor was looking into the matter.
In a letter to Republican chairmen made public Thursday afternoon, Sessions revealed John Huber, the lead U.S. attorney and top federal law enforcement officer in Utah, was investigating allegations of government misconduct and that upon his probe’s conclusion would determine the need for a special counsel — who would have broader prosecutorial powers.
Responding to the news in a tweet, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said Sessions’ refusal to select a second special counsel immediately was “disappointing.”
“So the Obama DOJ can open a legally questionable investigation into the Trump campaign — allegedly based on a campaign volunteer mouthing off at a London bar — but this DOJ can’t appoint a second special counsel after all the troubling documents we’ve seen?” he tweeted, before adding, “Disappointing.”
Meadows was referring to how Trump campaign foreign policy aide George Papadopoulos was found to have triggered the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to the House Intelligence Committee memo released last month.
Meadows is one of many Republicans who had been calling for a second special counsel for several weeks to look into agency leadership decisions to end the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s unauthorized private email server, the circumstances surrounding the genesis of the federal Trump-Russia investigation, and allegations in the House intelligence memo regarding government surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
Joining Meadows in that rallying call were two committee chairmen: Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., head of the Judiciary Committee and Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who leads the Oversight Committee.
Their tone was more measured than that of Meadows, but ultimately said a second counsel is still needed.
“We are encouraged that Attorney General Sessions has designated U.S. Attorney John W. Huber to investigate the actions of the Department of Justice and FBI in 2016 and 2017,” the two congressmen said in a statement Thursday evening. “While we continue to believe the appointment of a second Special Counsel is necessary, this is a step in the right direction.”
Sessions revealed late last month that DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz would lead the probe into alleged FISA abuses, which was announced by the watchdog Wednesday, coupling with Horowitz looking into allegations of political bias in several investigations leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Meanwhile, Democrats have said Republicans are trying to thwart special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
