(a) The attorney general and reporter has the authority to conduct an investigation and has the authority to initiate the criminal prosecution of any judge, chancellor or judicial elected official and/or district attorney general whenever:

(1) The attorney general and reporter receives information sufficient to constitute probable cause to investigate whether any official may have violated any state criminal law; and

(2) A decision to prosecute the official by the district attorney general of the district in which the offense occurred or in which a portion of the offense occurred may result in a personal, financial or political conflict of interest.

(b) If the attorney general and reporter initiates a criminal prosecution pursuant to the authority of this section, such attorney general and reporter, or a deputy or assistant attorney general, shall have the authority to exercise all of the powers and perform all of the duties before any court or grand jury with respect to such prosecution that the appropriate district attorney general would otherwise be authorized or required by law to exercise or perform.

(c) If the attorney general and reporter initiates a criminal prosecution pursuant to this section, the appropriate district attorney general shall fully cooperate with the attorney general and reporter and participate in the prosecution, unless the subject of such prosecution, to the extent requested or approved by the attorney general and reporter.

(d) If the attorney general and reporter concludes that an investigation or prosecution should be initiated pursuant to this section, the attorney general and reporter may, after giving notice to the executive director of the district attorneys general conference, request appointment as district attorney general pro tem by an appropriate court pursuant to § 8-7-106(a). The application shall be considered by the court in camera. The executive director may appear before the court to be heard on the request for appointment. The notice to the executive director, the application for appointment, and the proceedings on the application shall be confidential.

(e) The attorney general and reporter is hereby authorized to request the director of the Tennessee bureau of investigation to furnish such assistance as may be required by the attorney general and reporter in the performance of the attorney general and reporter's duties under this section. The Tennessee bureau of investigation is authorized to provide to the attorney general and reporter such assistance as the attorney general and reporter may request pursuant to this section.