A special counsel would remove the investigation from Trump’s grasp. Under the regulation establishing Mueller’s role, the Justice Department would serve as a backstop. “The Special Counsel shall not be subject to the day-to-day supervision of any official of the Department,” the regulations say. In other words, if Barr or Rosenstein had blocked an investigation into Trump Jr., the Justice Department would have to tell Congress. Barr’s confirmation that the Justice Department didn’t intervene to halt any possibly fruitful lines of inquiry will no doubt come as a relief.

Source: Washington Post March 22, 2019 22:07 UTC