Prosecuting the president : how special prosecutors hold presidents accountable and protect the rule of law / Andrew Coan.

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2019]

vii, 234 pages ; 22 cm

"[This book provides a] history of special prosecutors in American politics. For more than a century, special prosecutors have struck fear into the hearts of presidents, who have the power to fire them at any time. How could this be, [the author] asks? And how could the nation entrust such a high responsibility to such subordinate officials? [The author] demonstrates that special prosecutors can do much to protect the rule of law under the right circumstances. Many have been thwarted by the formidable challenges of investigating a sitting president and his close associates; a few have abused the powers entrusted to them. But at their best, special prosecutors function as catalysts of democracy, channeling an unfocused popular will to safeguard the rule of law. By raising the visibility of high-level misconduct, they enable the American people to hold the president accountable. Yet, if a president thinks he can fire a special prosecutor without incurring serious political damage, he has the power to do so. Ultimately, [the author] concludes, only the American people can decide whether the President is above the law."-- Publisher's website.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-230) and index.

KF5107.5 .C63 2019

English

9780190943868 hardcover ; alkaline paper
0190943866 hardcover ; alkaline paper
9780190943875 (Universal PDF)
9780190943882 (E-pub)