Pirro’s special grand jury move raises eyebrows after Trump fury over dropped Reflecting Pool case vandalism charges

The US Justice Department has established a special grand jury in Washington, with Steven Vandervelden, a top ally of US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, leading the investigation. The purpose of the grand jury remains undisclosed, but its formation is raising concerns due to its potential to probe some of the most controversial cases managed by Pirro’s office.

This development follows Pirro's recent backlash against President Donald Trump, who criticized her for dropping vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn for damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Vandervelden, a prominent figure within Pirro’s team, is known for leading investigations into high-profile cases, including a probe into then-Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell and allegations of the D.C. police department manipulating crime statistics.

The timing of this special grand jury is particularly noteworthy, as President Trump had previously suggested Pirro's position might be at risk. While there is no specific case assigned to the grand jury, the involvement of one of Pirro’s closest allies has sparked speculation that it could potentially investigate controversial matters that have faced resistance in successfully prosecuting.

Special grand juries are generally employed for investigations involving government officials, organized criminal activities, or broad conspiracies. Unlike typical grand juries, they can focus on a single case or multiple related cases. The D.C. panel's specific mandate is yet to be determined, but it operates similarly to an ordinary grand jury in terms of issuing indictments with a simple majority vote.

However, it has the added capability of delivering a report even if there is insufficient evidence to secure criminal charges. This report can identify individuals if there is a preponderance of evidence, allowing them to testify and present witnesses to counter the allegations.