Special Counsel John Durham, who was the US Attorney for Connecticut, will resign that post at the end of the month in anticipation of the new attorney general’s arrival.
— Disclose.tv ? (@disclosetv) February 26, 2021
President Joe Biden had previously requested the resignations of many of the federal prosecutors who operated during the Trump administration as the Justice Department’s lead investigators.
Although it is a common practice to request such turnovers, in order to avoid disloyal civil servants from undermining a president’s agenda, some members of Biden’s own party had expressed alarm that the dismissal of US Attorneys in New York and Illinois might interfere with pending investigations.
In one case—the potential probe into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo—it may be the mother-in-law of his top aide who winds up overseeing the case, barring a recusal.
Durham said he will continue his role as special counsel overseeing the investigation into the role that Obama administration officials—including President Joe Biden—may have played in conspiring to undermine former president Donald Trump.
However, many have cynically expressed doubt that Durham’s case will gain any traction under Biden and presumptive Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Despite Garland’s insistence during his confirmation hearing that he won’t be Biden’s “wing man”—a reference to the role played by former Attorney General Eric Holder during the Obama years—the federal judge is regarded as a deeply partisan pick who will enthusiastically support the Biden agenda.
Thus far, only one official has been indicted stemming from the expansive Durham probe.
Former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith, who was revealed to have altered an exculpatory CIA email in order to gain FISA approval to spy on Trump officials, submitted a guilty plea and received a year of probation from a Washington, DC judge for the crime.
