Brian Miller, the former White House lawyer appointed to serve as the special inspector general overseeing pandemic relief funds, addressed questions Thursday about his independence from the Trump administration, pledging not to be “influenced by any one particular party or entity, whether it’s Congress or whether it’s the executive branch.”

In a webcast hosted by the New York City Bar Association, Miller described independence as “critical” not just to his own work but for all inspectors general tasked with watching over federal agencies and rooting out fraud.