Prosecutor J.P. Cooney, the Post said, pushed to expand the probe to investigate potential links between extremists and some in Trump’s orbit and proposed to do so in February 2021. But along with feeling it was premature, top officials who initially rejected that proposal were also weary of political risks and straying away from standard investigative procedure, according to the Post. Garland’s early attempts at avoiding accusations of a politically motivated probe worried some inside the department, who told the Post that it slowed down investigative efforts. The DOJ and FBI declined to make Garland, Monaco and Wray available to the newspaper for interviews, it reported. In announcing Smith as special counsel, Garland said Smith “has built the reputation as an impartial and determined prosecutor.”

Source: Washington Post June 20, 2023 15:35 UTC