William Banks on appointing a special prosecutor after James Comey’s firing

William Banks, Board of Advisors Distinguished Professor in the College of Law and founding director of the Institute of National Security and Counterterrorism, reacts to the firing of FBI Director James Comey:

“President Trump’s firing of FBI Director Comey increases the pressure on Congress to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation of Russian influence on the 2016 election and the potential involvement of the Trump campaign, Trump transition, and Trump administration in those activities. Although the AG or Deputy AG could appoint a special counsel, that is highly unlikely under present circumstances. It will be politically challenging for Congress to create a special counsel for this investigation, because new legislation along these lines would have to pass and then overcome a presidential veto. More likely, Congress could on its own create a separate committee of its members or, better yet, an outside and independent commission (similar to the 9/11 Commission) with a mandate to investigate. A commission would be outside the political arena and could be made up of individuals with experience who are widely respected for their independent judgment.”

Professor Banks is available to speak to media on this issue. Please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, director of news and PR for Syracuse University, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu or 315.443.1897, or Martin Walls, communications manager at INSCT, at mwalls@syr.edu or 315.753.2744.