Special counsels expand role in US investigations

Significance

Both special masters and special counsels have been used in cases involving the former president. The two roles are different, with special counsels offering a degree of insulation and neutrality when cases carry the potential for a political conflict of interest.

Impacts

• The removal of the Florida special master emphasises that a former president should not receive special treatment.
• An outside company hired by Trump’s legal team is conducting a sweep of all Trump properties for any further government documents.
• Special masters typically provide expertise while special counsels offer political neutrality, but both are often accused of bias.