First things first: Appointing Powell as special counsel, or to any governmental post with any authority whatsoever, would be wildly irresponsible and outright dangerous. Under the special counsel regulations , only the attorney general -- not the president -- can appoint a special counsel. If named special counsel, Powell would hold formidable power that she is simply unfit to exercise. If the attorney general overrules the special counsel on any issue, the attorney general must report that disagreement to Congress. Bottom line: A presidential appointment of Powell as special counsel likely would be illegal, and almost certainly would be dangerous.

Source: CNN December 20, 2020 20:14 UTC