| The AGs aren't independent, but they are lawyers, and are subject to Bar Assoc. rules on ethics. (Some of the ethics rules I have heard of are pretty immoral, but it is a restrictive craft guild, so that is pretty part for the course)
The ethics rules make it clear that they are officers of the court and they are forbidden certain kinds of behavior. So even if they get a direct order to do such and such, their status as "officer of the court" theoretically prevents that.
For example, they have to recuse themselves if they know their client is planning perjury, they can't advice on how to best break the law (but after it is broken, they can advice on how to best avoid the consequences)
As we saw in the clinton years, and as we are seeing now, this isn't really such a big deal to a lot of folks. |