Late Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder said he had assigned two U.S. attorneys to lead investigations into the possible leaking of state secrets.

CNN: Obama, GOP and economic blame game

Previously, a GMP spokesman had said Lancashire Police was taking the lead in all investigations around the alleged historical abuse claims, with the Greater Manchester force providing support.

BBC: Sir Cyril Smith abuse claims: Police forces split cases

In the Senate, Kerry has taken the lead on several investigations, including probes of banking scandals and an examination on whether there were any Americans being held as prisoners of war in Vietnam.

CNN: Specials

The proceeds from those seizures are often doled out to local authorities who participate in the investigations that lead to the seizures.

WSJ: Court Rejects Justice Department Seizure of Motel Caswell

Although HMRC has sought to tackle the practice by taking enforcement action in a few "lead" cases, such investigations can take many years to resolve and the rulings cannot always be applied successfully elsewhere.

BBC: Tax avoidance schemes 'costs UK billions in lost revenue'

The danger, now, is that the Jones case will lead to calls for all similar investigations to be abandoned.

ECONOMIST: Sex-abuse cases

Its investigation also recommended that "a centralised and service-wide resource should be made available to lead or assist departments in complex investigations such as this".

BBC: Department under fire over whistleblower complaints

The Met takes the national lead in all aspects of counter-terrorism, including intelligence, investigations and prevention.

BBC: Stephenson named as new Met boss

Through almost one million actions, seven campaigns, 30, 000 phone calls, investigations and countless stunts and legal tactics, Avaaz claims it has played a lead role in stopping Murdoch from buying over 50% of UK commercial media, of which BSkyB was the crown jewel.

FORBES: After UK Scandal, Media Activists Gunning For Rupert Murdoch