Concluding Thoughts and Implications

This chapter revisits key findings presented throughout the book. The results indicate a clear pattern of executive influence on the work of U.S. Attorneys (USAs). Additional results suggest that Congress has more influence than previously considered. The models in Chapter 6 show that Booker increased the influence of the President as well as the discretion of federal prosecutors. This naturally leads to questions about how future administrations will attempt to influence USAs and, more directly, how the Trump administration’s focus on narcotics and immigration will alter the priorities of USAs. Beyond this short-term speculation, the final chapter grounds the results in the rich empirical literature on the control of agents, prosecutorial discretion, and the imperial presidency.