independent counsel
Appointed investigation leader
Independent counsel refers to a lawyer appointed to investigate and potentially prosecute government officials, particularly when the regular Justice Department faces a conflict of interest.
The term gained prominence in the United States following Watergate, when Congress created a formal mechanism for appointing such prosecutors to ensure impartiality in cases involving the executive branch.
The independent counsel spent years investigating the president's financial dealings.
The position was also called special prosecutor, and similar investigations today are typically conducted by a special counsel appointed by the Attorney General.
Attorney for high-profile investigations
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- plea bargainNegotiated criminal case resolution
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- discoveryAct of finding something
verdict · trial · courtroom · judiciary · litigation · statute · jurisdiction · appointment
Obligation for one's actions
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- watchdogGuard or monitor
- congressional oversightLegislature monitoring executive branch
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
executive branch · separation of powers · public trust · government accountability · political scandal · abuse of power · misconduct · malfeasance
Free from prejudice
- neutralNot favoring any side
- objectivePurpose or goal
- nonpartisanNot aligned politically
- detachedApart or uninvolved
disinterested · evenhanded · arm's length · conflict of interest · recusal · credibility · legitimacy · insulation
Writ requiring testimony
- grand juryInvestigative charging body
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
evidence · witness · interrogation · forensics · allegation · inquiry · fraud · corruption
special prosecutor
Attorney for high-profile investigations
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- plea bargainNegotiated criminal case resolution
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
discovery · verdict · trial · courtroom · judiciary · litigation · statute · jurisdiction · appointment · Department of Justice
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- watchdogGuard or monitor
- congressional oversightLegislature monitoring executive branch
checks and balances · executive branch · separation of powers · public trust · government accountability · political scandal · abuse of power · misconduct · malfeasance · investigation report
unbiased
Free from prejudice
- neutralNot favoring any side
- objectivePurpose or goal
- nonpartisanNot aligned politically
detached · disinterested · evenhanded · arm's length · conflict of interest · recusal · credibility · legitimacy · insulation · autonomy
subpoena
Writ requiring testimony
- grand juryInvestigative charging body
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
prosecution · evidence · witness · interrogation · forensics · allegation · inquiry · fraud · corruption · collusion
- investigationsinvestigation report, audit, investigation, review, FBI investigation
- 1990sMonica Lewinsky, impeachment, NAFTA, Whitewater, Oklahoma City bombing
- anticorruptionanti-graft, ethics commission, ethics committee, financial disclosure, graft
- hearingscongressional hearing, congressional hearings, committee hearing, confirmation hearing, public hearings
- impeachmentimpeachment, articles of impeachment, impeachment inquiry, high crimes, Senate trial
- oversightoversight committees, oversight board, review, auditors, supervisor
independent counseldefense counsel
Lawyer representing the accused
defense attorney · inspector general · in-house counsel · public defender
independent, counsel, independence, independently, dependence, dependent, depend, dependency, independents