Back from the grave: the life, death, and revival of the independent counsel law, 1978–1994

Abstract

This article furnishes a detailed case study of an American law which was established to create a semi-independent method for examining wrongdoing within the executive branch of the Federal government, thereby preventing a conflict of interest. Though the Independent Counsel Law was created in 1978 with strong support and eventually renewed twice, allegations of intrusiveness, ineffectiveness, and waste of government resources resulted in its lapse in 1992. The Independent Counsel Law was resurrected just two years later amid charges involving President Bill Clinton’s land deals. In addition to covering events associated with the law’s rollercoaster ride from 1978 through 1994, the essay presents arguments for and against the renewal of the Independent Counsel Law.