Trump Under Investigation, Faces Potential Prosecution - Trump is being pursued after his investigation into the president.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is currently investigating Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led investigations into former President Donald Trump, for potential violations of the Hatch Act related to alleged political activities during working hours.
The investigation was initiated following a referral by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who accused Smith of politicizing his prosecutorial work to harm Trump's 2024 reelection prospects.
Appointed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, Smith oversaw two investigations against Trump. These investigations included allegations of election tampering, conspiracy, and the handling of classified documents. Notably, Smith requested the dismissal of both cases after Trump's victory in the presidential election in November 2022.
Smith resigned from his position in January 2025, shortly before Trump returned to office. The OSC is an independent federal agency primarily responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act, but since Smith is no longer a government employee, questions arise about what consequences the OSC could implement if a violation is found.
The Hatch Act restricts federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities, and Smith's actions are being scrutinized for potential political influence. The OSC did not initially respond to a request for comment from news agency AFP regarding the investigation against Smith.
The investigation into Smith's conduct arises amid heightened partisan scrutiny of the DOJ and related federal agencies. Both Smith and former AG Garland have asserted the investigations were free from political motives.
The investigation into Smith is ongoing, and any findings could be referred to the Department of Justice, which is itself reportedly investigating Smith and other prosecutors for alleged "weaponization" in pursuing Trump through a separate working group.
This update provides a summary of the active OSC probe focused on whether Smith, while serving as special counsel, engaged in illegal political activities during his investigations of Donald Trump. The outcome and potential disciplinary actions remain unclear.
In the ongoing investigation by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Jack Smith, the former special counsel who investigated Donald Trump, is being scrutinized for potential Hatch Act violations involving political activities during work hours. This comes after a referral from Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who claimed Smith politicized his prosecutorial work to potentially harm Trump's 2024 reelection prospects. Additionally, the ongoing OSC probe focuses on whether Smith engaged in illegal political activities during his investigations against Trump, with the Department of Justice reportedly investigating Smith and other prosecutors for alleged "weaponization."
