Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not appointing a second special counsel to examine GOP charges of misconduct at the FBI. Instead, he is having John Huber, Utah's top federal prosecutor, look into allegations the nation's top law enforcement agency abused its power in surveilling Carter Page and did not do enough to investigate Hillary Clinton's ties to Uranium One.
Both sets of accusations have been debunked repeatedly by an abundance of factual evidence showing the FBI has done nothing wrong, but Republicans have continued to push the matter.
CNN:
Sessions' decision to stop short of formally appointing a special counsel like Robert Mueller, detailed in a lengthy written response to three Republican chairmen on Capitol Hill, will likely anger those in the GOP who have recently ramped up calls to investigate claims of political bias at the nation's top law enforcement agencies.
The attorney general said he will rely on Huber's review to determine if a special counsel is needed.
"We understand that the Department is not above criticism and it can never be that the Department conceals errors when they occur," he wrote.
"I am confident that Mr. Huber's review will include a full, complete and objective evaluation of these matters in a manner that is consistent with the law and facts," Sessions wrote. "I receive regular updates from Mr. Huber and upon the conclusion of his review, will receive his recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, or whether any matters merit the appointment of a special counsel."
The announcement comes one day after the Justice Department's internal watchdog office confirmed it would review how the FBI obtained a warrant to monitor Trump foreign policy aide Carter Page, as well as the bureau's relationship with Christopher Steele, the author of the Trump dossier.
Sessions does not appoint second special counsel to review FBI misconduct claims (CNN)
READ: AG Sessions announces prosecutor investigating claims of FBI misconduct (CNN)
Who is John Huber, the Utah US attorney investigating claims of FBI misconduct? (CNN)