U.S. Agency Explores Probe Against Trump's Ex-Special Prosecutor, Smith - FBI probes Trump as ex-agent Smith under scrutiny
In a surprising turn of events, the focus of the ongoing investigations related to Donald Trump and his associates has shifted to Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022.
Smith, who led two major investigations into Trump, has found himself under scrutiny for potential violations of the Hatch Act. The Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) has opened an independent probe into Smith's conduct, following allegations that he acted as a political actor.
The investigations under Smith's leadership were wide-ranging. One focused on Trump's handling of classified documents, while another concerned alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election. Both investigations resulted in criminal charges against Trump, but were closed last year after Trump won re-election.
However, the latest development in this saga comes as Smith resigned in January 2025, shortly before a Republican who had threatened to fire him could do so. The resignation was prompted by allegations from Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican, who claimed that Smith pushed for a "rushed trial" of Trump, suggesting political bias.
The investigation into Smith's conduct was prompted by these allegations. Meanwhile, Trump has sought to appoint Paul Ingrassia, a MAGA loyalist, to lead the Office of Special Counsel, but the nomination is stalled in the Senate.
It is important to note that both investigations against Trump were related to him storing classified government records at his private residence in Florida. Trump rejected the charges, calling them politically motivated. After his victory in the presidential election in November, Smith requested the dismissal of both cases.
Smith's departure before Trump's return to the White House has added fuel to the fire, with many questioning the timing and the motives behind it. The investigations were reported by The New York Times and AFP.
As the investigations into Smith's conduct continue, the spotlight remains on the actions of both Smith and Trump, raising questions about the integrity of the justice system and the political landscape in the United States.
In the ongoing political drama, Jack Smith, the special counsel who investigated Donald Trump and his associates, is now under scrutiny for potential Hatch Act violations by the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC). This comes after allegations that Smith acted as a political actor during his investigations, which were extensively covered by The New York Times and AFP. Meanwhile, Trump, despite facing these allegations of politically motivated investigations, is seeking to appoint a MAGA loyalist, Paul Ingrassia, to lead the Office of Special Counsel to possibly oversee any future investigations related to policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, politics, general-news, and several other key issues in the USA.
