2 U.S.C. § 288g — Advisory and other functions

(a) Advisory role. The Counsel must advise, consult, and work with: (1) the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on criminal contempt-of-Congress cases certified by the President pro tempore of the Senate under section 194 of this title; (2) the Senate committee responsible for identifying court cases of vital interest to the Senate; (3) the Comptroller General, the Government Accountability Office, the Senate's Office of Legislative Counsel, and the Congressional Research Service — though nothing in this chapter changes those offices' own functions, powers, or duties; (4) any Senate Member, officer, or employee who is not represented under section 288c of this title, to help them get private legal counsel; (5) the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Parliamentarian, on any subpoena, order, or request to withdraw papers from the Senate that raises a question about the Senate's privileges; and (6) any Senate committee or subcommittee, on writing and updating their rules for using congressional investigative powers and on questions that come up during investigations. (b) Legal research files. The Counsel must keep legal research files of materials from court cases involving Congress, a House of Congress, a congressional office or agency, or any committee, subcommittee, Member, officer, or employee of Congress. Public court papers and research memos that don't contain confidential or privileged information must be made available to the public, consistent with any applicable Senate rules and the Senate's interests. (c) Other duties. The Counsel must also perform other duties, consistent with this chapter's purposes and limits, that the Senate directs.