Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump is pushing extensively for the appointment of special counsels to separately investigate his baseless allegations of voter fraud and allegations surrounding Hunter Biden, the son of the President-elect, according to people familiar with the matter.
Trump has raised the idea in meetings with advisers, and has gone as far as asking for names of potential appointees to the special counsel positions, according to one of the people briefed on Trump's conversations.
The issue of a special counsel appears poised to become a major issue in the final days of Trump's presidency, when he works to finalize his long-sought priorities, hamstring the incoming administration and exact political revenge on those he believes wronged him during his tenure.
Jeffrey Rosen steps into the spotlight as he replaces Barr for Trump's last month
Trump remains deeply aggrieved at the special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller into ties between his campaign and Russia.
Some of Trump's aides have signaled to allies the President is intent on following through with the moves, though it remains unclear how or when Trump might press the issue at the Justice Department, which will undergo a change in leadership next week when Attorney General William Barr resigns.
Read More
Justice Department rules say a special counsel must be named by the attorney general, though Trump has quizzed his team whether he could name one himself, according to one person familiar with the matter.
If the incoming acting attorney general, Jeffrey Rosen, refuses to appoint the special counsels at Trump's request, the President could fire him, the people said.
But currently there is no obvious replacement who might be more willing to fulfill Trump's wishes. One person familiar with the matter predicted Trump would ultimately be talked out of firing Rosen, though at the end of his term he has become more unpredictable than ever.
Fired DHS official: 'Dangerous' to embrace false and baseless attacks on election
Trump's interest in special counsels was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press.
In addition to the special counsel issue, Trump is considering firing additional members of his administration and is mulling a long list of pardon requests.
Trump has voiced interest in a special counsel to look into voter fraud for several weeks, according to one person familiar with the matter. There has been no evidence to sustain his allegations of widespread voter fraud, and courts have repeatedly ruled against him as he seeks to overturn the results of the election.
His queries about a special counsel to look into Hunter Biden have come more recently, after it became public the younger Biden is under federal investigation related to his taxes.
The Hunter Biden investigation -- and in particular the revelation that Barr kept it from becoming public before the election -- has become a fixation of Trump's as he wallows in his election loss. It caused an existing rift between the President and Barr to deepen, with Trump furious his attorney general hadn't allowed the news to become public before voters cast ballots.
JUST WATCHED Trump tweets about Bill Barr's departure from White House
Replay
More Videos ...
MUST WATCH
Play
Trump tweets about Bill Barr's departure from White House 01:31
Ultimately, White House counsel Pat Cipollone brought the President and Barr together for a meeting on Monday that resulted in Barr submitting his resignation. Sources described the meeting as cordial, despite Trump's anger, and the President tweeted afterward his relationship with Barr was "very good."
It's unclear whether Trump ever directly raised the idea of special counsels with Barr, though his interest in naming them has been known publicly and several of his allies have voiced their support.
The federal law governing special counsels lays out specific conditions under which an attorney general may appoint one, which don't appear to have been met at this point. Those conditions include that an attorney general is recused and that the investigation presents a conflict of interest for the department, and that it's in the public interest to appoint one.
But Trump administration lawyers likely can navigate past those requirements by appointing someone to act like a special counsel even if the requirements aren't all in place, as Barr did in giving special counsel powers to John Durham, the Connecticut US attorney reinvestigating the Russia investigation.
Inside the Justice Department and the agencies leading the Hunter Biden probe, one concern remains that any intervention by Trump to appoint a special counsel could politicize and taint what officials consider to be a legitimate investigation, one person briefed on the matter said.
JUST WATCHED Barr appoints Durham as special counsel for investigation
Replay
More Videos ...
MUST WATCH
Play
Barr appoints Durham as special counsel for investigation 02:50
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham said Wednesday he has not spoken with Trump about appointing a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden, but said he thinks it is a "good idea." The South Carolina Republican said he believed a potential special counsel should look into not just allegations related to Biden's taxes, but also his business dealings with other countries, including China and Ukraine.
Another of Trump's allies on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, disagreed.
"If the Biden transition team speaks for Biden, and he says the President is not going to interfere with anything going on in the Justice Department, I don't think we need a special counsel, but if we had a special counsel, it would obviously protect us from any possible interference," Grassley said.
Democrats on the Judiciary panel said they believed the Hunter Biden matter was better left without a special counsel involved. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin noted that a the federal investigation into the younger Biden's taxes has been going on "for some time now."
"I hope that the selection of Attorney General by President Biden makes it clear that a person of honesty and integrity can take the first look at this and handle it properly," he said.
On Monday, the Justice Department declined to comment on the prospect of a special counsel or Trump moving to fire Rosen.
In August, Rosen addressed his views of political interference at the Justice Department during a public conversation at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
"I think it's vital that we have trust in the independence and impartiality of our justice system because we're a rule-of-law nation," he said. "We're a country where the rule of law governs. We're not one where courts can proceed on the basis of arbitrariness, skew, whims, bias, political affiliation."
Paid Content
The Stunning Volvo XC90 Is Turning Heads searchthese.net | Sponsored Listings
How Far Does $1,000,000 Go in Retirement? Fisher Investments
How to Avoid Foggy Eyeglasses When Wearing a Face Mask AARP
Top U.S. Vet Explains How To Help Your Aging Cat Dr. Marty
[Photos] "Waltons" Actress Says Playboy Ended Her Career Past Factory
Just Who Hoarded All That Toilet Paper? AARP
The New 2020 Volkswagen Lineup Is Turning Heads Luxury Auto | Sponsored Listings
Urologist: Try This If You Have An Enlarged Prostate (Watch) newhealthylife.club
Randy Jackson: This 3 Minute Routine Transformed My Health yourhealthygut.com
The Most Successful Attorneys In Los Angeles - See The List Attorney
sponsored by Deejo
Choose the materials, finishes, tattoo the blade, and engrave a personal message for an irreplaceable gift.
For the Holidays, discover the fully customizable pocketknife Shop Now
The original gift idea? The must-have customizable Shop Now
Buy Now A Deejo, The Pocketknife Which Suits You Shop Now
Recommended by
CNN International - Videos Fox News targets Bill Gates after CNN interview
CNN International - Videos Stelter: This was Fox News' biggest story last week
CNN International - TV - Videos White House summit on vaccines goes off rails as Trump spews election lies
U.S. Fort Bragg soldier who went missing Memorial Day weekend was decapitated, investigators say
Politics Analysis: How Donald Trump orchestrated the 'lie of the year'
Politics What Republicans are saying privately about the election
About Plaque Psoriasis: Learn About Symptoms & Causes Sponsored: Lifelessons.club
These 2020 hourly rates for lawyers in Los Angeles will shock you Sponsored: Attorneys | Sponsored Listings
23 Insanely Cool Gifts That Are Going To Sell Out This Year Sponsored: Lifestyle Tips Today
45 Weird Small Towns In The United States Ranker
13 Tales About Working With Legendary Actor, Gary Oldman Ranker
The Most Successful Attorneys In Los Angeles - See The List Attorney|Sponsored Listings
71-Year Old Credits Stunning transformation To One "Superfood" 3superfoods.com
Ranked: The 25 Best Vehicles of 2020 Edmunds
What is the biggest mistake people make with $1 million? Fisher Investments
Paid Content
Most wine drinkers in the US don't know these 5 simple Dos and… Naked Wines Tommy Chong: Throw Out Your CBD Now tommychongshemp.com The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Is So Loaded It's Hard to Believe They… Luxury Auto | Sponsored Listings California: Say Bye To Your Mortgage If You Live Near Los… Fetcharate
More from CNN
Mar-a-Lago: Trump's future Palm Beach neighbors seek legal… Assassinated Iranian nuclear scientist shot with… Analysis: The UAE and Israel's whirlwind honeymoon has gone… Analysis: Here's why there's *no* chance of a liberal takeover…
Recommended by