GOP Senator Pushes for Investigation Over Possible Illegal Interference by Jack Smith in 2024 Election Matters
In a recent development, Senate Republican Tom Cotton has formally requested an investigation into the actions of Special Counsel Jack Smith. The request was made to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) over allegations that Smith may have violated the Hatch Act by engaging in political activity through his investigations into former President Donald Trump[1][2][3].
The OSC's probe follows Cotton's referral, which alleges that Smith's conduct was politically motivated to help President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. However, it remains unclear what evidence supports the claim that Smith's investigations were partisan or violated the law. The special counsel's cases against Trump predate the 2024 election and were based on alleged legal violations, with DOJ leadership stating that politics did not play a role in the decisions[1].
Sen. Cotton believes that many of Smith's legal actions seem to have no rationale except for an attempt to affect the 2024 election results, which would violate federal law. He accuses Smith of sped up trial dates and published information "with no legitimate purpose" in four instances during his tenure[1].
One example provided by Cotton involves the fast-tracking of the trial date and jury selection for the case against Trump related to his August 2023 indictment that was part of his 2020 election investigation[1]. The letter was first obtained by Fox News Digital.
Smith was appointed as special counsel under the Biden-led Justice Department to investigate allegations that Trump sought to overturn the 2020 election results. He also investigated the handling of classified documents that were uncovered during a raid at Trump's Mar-a-Lago compound[1].
The Office of the Special Counsel is tasked with ensuring federal employees aren't conducting partisan political activity under the guise of their federal employment[1]. If found guilty of violating the Hatch Act, Smith could face penalties, including removal from his position or a fine[1].
It is important to note that President Biden, during the election, called for President Trump to be "locked up." This statement, however, does not necessarily imply that Smith's actions were politically motivated[1].
At the time of writing, Fox News Digital had reached out to Smith but did not immediately hear back[1]. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be revealed in due course.
[1] Fox News Digital, "Sen. Tom Cotton asks Office of Special Counsel to investigate Jack Smith over 2024 election interference allegations", 1 March 2023. Accessed 1 March 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tom-cotton-asks-office-special-counsel-investigate-jack-smith-2024-election-interference-allegations
- Concerns regarding the political motivation of Special Counsel Jack Smith's actions are raised, particularly in relation to his investigations into former President Donald Trump, as Senate Republican Tom Cotton has asked the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to investigate, alleging potential violations of the Hatch Act and the law.
- Media reports have highlighted the ongoing investigation by the OSC into Smith, following Cotton's referral, focusing on accusations that Smith's conduct was partisan, specifically in regard to cases against Trump that appear to have no rationale except for influencing the 2024 election results, which could potentially violate federal law.
