Investigation Demanded by Senator Tom Cotton (Republican, US) on Jack Smith, former Special Counsel, for alleged electoral meddling during the 2024 election against candidate Donald Trump prior to his assumption of office.
In a series of developments, federal authorities, including the independent U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), have initiated investigations into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who prosecuted cases against Donald Trump before the 2024 election. The investigations centre around allegations that Smith may have used his prosecutorial actions to influence the election against Trump, potentially violating the Hatch Act.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton publicly called for an investigation, accusing Smith of pushing for a rushed trial to sway the election outcome. The investigations focus on whether Smith deliberately expedited trial proceedings and managed the disclosure of information in ways that impacted the election politically.
The OSC probe examines Smith’s compliance with the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities by federal employees. However, since Smith resigned in January 2025 and is no longer a government employee, the OSC’s ability to sanction him is unclear; it may refer any findings to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is also investigating Smith and other prosecutors for potential misconduct through its so-called "Weaponization Working Group."
One of the key concerns is Smith’s decision to press for a trial before the election by moving for an expedited review by the appeals court and filing a petition with the Supreme Court to bypass the district court. Senator Cotton claims that these actions were not standard, necessary, or justified, implying they were politically motivated.
Smith’s brief on Trump’s immunity was 165 pages, four times the normal maximum page limit, and included grand jury testimony typically kept secret. Smith’s prosecution team also filed an initial brief on Trump’s immunity from prosecution without a defense motion pending, which the judge found procedurally irregular.
The investigation request is made to ensure federal employees aren't conducting partisan political activity under the guise of their federal employment. Senator Tom Cotton has sent a letter to Acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer requesting an investigation. The letter, addressed to Mr. Jamieson Greer, Acting Special Counsel, United States Office of Special Counsel, outlines the concerns and requests a thorough investigation into whether former Special Counsel Jack Smith violated federal law.
While Smith and former Attorney General Merrick Garland have continually denied that their actions were politically motivated, critics argue that Smith’s timing and actions had no clear legal rationale other than to affect the 2024 election. The investigations aim to uncover the truth behind these allegations.
The full text of the letter can be found at a specified location. The allegations against Smith include using far-fetched and aggressive legal theories to prosecute the Republican nominee for president, potentially violating the Justice Department’s 60-day rule, which prohibits actions for the purpose of affecting any election within 60 days of the election. Smith’s actions seem to violate this rule, as he demanded a trial for President Trump to start on January 2, 2024, with jury selection beginning as early as December 11, 2023, giving the defense team fewer than six months to prepare for trial.
The investigations into Jack Smith are a significant development in the ongoing political landscape, shedding light on the potential misuse of power by federal officials. As the investigations progress, more information is expected to come to light, providing clarity on the allegations against Smith and the impact on the 2024 election.
The ongoing investigations by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) into Jack Smith, involving the alleged use of his prosecutorial actions to influence the 2024 election, are associated with the realm of policy-and-legislation, as they center around potential violations of the Hatch Act and the Justice Department's 60-day rule. Senator Tom Cotton's request for an investigation, made amidst political turmoil, underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of general-news reporting in ensuring federal employees don't engage in partisan political activity.
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