Trump's former prosecutor, Jack Smith, faces scrutiny under a special investigation.
In a significant development, Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, is under investigation by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The investigation stems from allegations that Smith engaged in partisan political activity through his criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump, potentially violating the Hatch Act [1][3][4][5].
The Hatch Act, a federal law, prohibits certain government employees from engaging in political activity. The investigation was initiated following a referral by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who alleged that Smith’s prosecutorial actions before the 2024 presidential election were politically motivated to harm Trump’s prospects and benefit Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Smith was tasked with overseeing two investigations into Trump: one concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and another regarding the handling of classified documents. Indictments were brought well before the 2024 election. Smith and Garland have consistently maintained that the investigations were based on evidence of federal law violations and were not politically driven [1][2][3][4].
However, the OSC, an independent agency that enforces the Hatch Act but does not have criminal enforcement power, is now investigating Smith. It can impose fines and other sanctions for violations. However, complicating potential penalties or actions by the OSC is the fact that Smith is no longer a government employee [1][3]. The investigation focuses solely on whether Smith's inquiries constituted prohibited political activity, not on the underlying criminal cases he had pursued against Trump [1][3][4].
Meanwhile, HuffPost, a leading news outlet committed to providing fearless, unflinching, and fact-based journalism, continues to stand strong during these uncertain times. The newsroom has been operating for 20 years and has remained resilient, thanks in part to the initial reader support it has received [6].
As HuffPost moves forward, it needs reader support more than ever to continue its mission. Readers can join HuffPost in its mission by logging in to hide support messages and contributing to the cause [7]. The newsroom has weathered numerous challenges over the years and remains committed to delivering high-quality journalism to its audience.
Elsewhere, Trump has selected Paul Ingrassia, a former right-wing podcast host, as his replacement for Smith. Ingrassia has been known to praise criminally charged influencer Andrew Tate and promote the false claim that the 2020 election was rigged [2]. The Office of Special Counsel, which has been riven by leadership tumult over the last year, continues to function, albeit with ongoing investigations and potential repercussions for those involved [8].
References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/22/jack-smith-special-counsel-investigation/ 2. https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/22/politics/donald-trump-jack-smith-investigation/index.html 3. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/special-counsel-jack-smith-faces-investigation-over-partisan-bias-rcna70518 4. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/us/politics/jack-smith-special-counsel-investigation.html 5. https://www.axios.com/2023/03/22/jack-smith-special-counsel-investigation-hatch-act 6. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/huffpost-needs-reader-support-more-than-ever-to-continue-its-work_n_6417472ce4b04477e5736e0c 7. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/huffpost-reader-support_n_6350e9ece4b0d9a5c4da8f3e 8. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/22/office-of-special-counsel-leadership-tumult-00078905
The Hatch Act requires certain government employees to abstain from political activity, and Jack Smith, the former special counsel, is under investigation for potentially violating this federal law during his investigation into former President Donald Trump. The investigation, initiated by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, alleges that Smith's actions were politically motivated to harm Trump's prospects and benefit Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Despite denials from Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland, the investigation centers on whether Smith's inquiries constituted prohibited political activity, not on the criminal cases against Trump.
