Republicans call for new special counsel to probe alleged FBI misconduct

Conservative Republicans are calling for a new special counsel to investigate allegations of wrongdoing at the Department of Justice and the FBI.

A resolution seeking the appointment builds on Donald Trump and Republican allies to questioning the integrity of federal law enforcement officials who are probing Russian election interference and potential links to the Trump presidential campaign.

“There is an urgent need for the appointment of a second Special Counsel in light of evidence that raises critical concerns about decisions, activities, and inherent bias displayed at the highest levels” of the Department and Justice and the FBI, the resolution argues.

It targets in particular three potential sources of misconduct: the decision to absolve Hillary Clinton of criminal conduct in maintaining a private email server while serving as secretary of state; the origins of a probe into potential connections between the Trump campaign and Russia; and the process by which federal authorities secure the right to surveil targets.

The resolution could ultimately be symbolic, as Republican leader Paul Ryan has not committed to bringing it up for a vote. But it follows a pattern.

As special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian meddling has continued into a second year, Republicans - led by Mr Trump - have increasingly assailed the Department of Justice and the FBI for what they call partisan bias that compromises their investigations.

Amid reports that an FBI informant had spoken to Trump campaign associates in an effort to gather information, Mr Trump demanded a probe into whether federal officials violated a rule against politically motivated investigations.

Soon after, the Department of Justice announced that its inspector general would examine whether there was “any impropriety or political motivation in how the FBI conducted its counterintelligence investigation of persons suspected of involvement with the Russian agents who interfered in the 2016 presidential election”.

That commitment expanded to encompass “any irregularities with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s or the Department of Justice’s tactics concerning the Trump Campaign” after Mr Trump met with intelligence and law enforcement officials, according to the White House.

The Department of Justice is already reviewing surveillance procedures after Mr Trump and Republicans alleged abuse in federal officials winning the power to eavesdrop on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. Law enforcement officials have said they followed proper guidelines.

In remarks to reporters, Mr Ryan backed the Justice Department inspector general’s probe as “very important” and deserving of the “latitude to take the investigation where it needs to go”.

“It is really important that we conduct a proper oversight of the executive branch to make sure that that power is not or has not or will not be abused”, Mr Ryan said.