But all hands seemed to have been tied by the independent counsel law.

"The independent counsel law left Justice with no choice but to move to a preliminary investigation," he said.

Congress allowed the independent counsel law to expire in June.

Even so, the President would gut the existing independent counsel law.

Just a few weeks earlier, the independent counsel law had expired.

The choice fell to her because the independent counsel law was not in effect at the time.

But in recent weeks, the effectiveness of the independent counsel law has come into question.

That's the kind of decision the independent counsel law takes away from the department.

Use of the independent counsel law should also be limited to crimes committed in office.

The rush is on again to lynch the independent counsel law.