Garland names special counsel to lead Trump-related probes

Garland said the appointment would allow prosecutors to continue their work 'indisputably guided' only by the facts and the law

Former US president Donald Trump (Andrew Harnik/AP)

US attorney general Merrick Garland has named a special counsel to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents at former president Donald Trump’s Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the January 6 2021 insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election.

The move, announced just three days after Mr Trump formally launched his 2024 candidacy, is a recognition of the unmistakable political implications of two investigations that involve not only a former president but also a current White House hopeful.