The Nation : House Votes to Extend Prosecutor Law

The House voted to extend and strengthen the independent counsel law, but rejected a move that would mandate use of the prosecutors in cases of members of Congress suspected of wrongdoing. The vote for a five-year reauthorization of the 1978 act establishing the special prosecutors came despite Reagan Administration opposition and challenges to the law’s constitutionality. The law, due to expire in January, is intended to avoid conflict of interest in cases where the Justice Department would have to investigate high-level officials of the executive branch. The law provides for the appointment of lawyers from outside the department to conduct such probes and seek indictments where necessary.