HOUSTON – Special prosecutors -- also known as independent or special counsel -- are not unheard of but are relatively uncommon, especially when it comes to possible direct ties to a U.S. president.
With a special prosecutor now tasked to investigate whether President Donald Trump's associates colluded with Russian officials in last year's campaign, people we spoke to have concerns.
"The White House right now is extremely unstable," said Houston resident Jonathan Ramirez. "Especially with our president and the country being so divided the way it is now."
"It's concerning the way this country's going," added Jason Smith, a Houston visitor. "I'd like to see truth and honesty win out, but I don't know who to believe."
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller will lead the investigation. He'll not only look into potential links between the Trump campaign and Russian officials -- he'll also look into his successor James Comey's claims that Trump pressured him to quash the probe.
Channel 2 legal analyst Brian Wice -- who has experience as a special prosecutor -- said the investigation will be thorough.
"He's going to follow the evidence wherever it leads," said Wice. "That could well lead to criminality involving the president of the United States, cabinet members and any other high-ranking individual whose DNA is in collusion between Russia and the U.S."
With more turmoil out of Washington in just the first four months of the Trump presidency, some folks are starting to worry.
"The conclusion of all this is what I'm really concerned about," said Catherine Newton. "Where do we go from there, especially with a lot of international concerns going on at the moment?"
The last time a special counsel was appointed was in 2003 to investigate the unmasking of a CIA agent. The person who made that decision was James Comey, who was the deputy attorney general at the time.
