Smith spearheaded pivotal investigations exploring former President Trump's involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot and his handling of sensitive classified documents.
The US Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency, has launched an investigation into former Department of Justice prosecutor Jack Smith. This inquiry focuses on potential violations of the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities by federal employees.
Jack Smith previously led significant investigations, including probing former President Donald Trump's involvement in the January 6 US Capitol riot and alleged mishandling of classified documents. The new investigation was sparked by a request from Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican, who claimed last week that Smith's actions constituted "unprecedented interference in the 2024 election."
The Hatch Act, a federal law enacted in 1939, is designed to prevent federal employees from engaging in certain types of political activity. Trump and other Republican leaders have contended that Smith’s investigations represented illegal political interference.
Smith was appointed as special counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, just three days after Trump announced his candidacy for a second term. His mandate included investigating issues related to the 2020 election and the management of classified documents.
It is important to note that the US Office of Special Counsel, which is conducting the investigation into Smith, is distinct from the Justice Department-appointed special counsel role Smith held. As an independent agency, it does not have the authority to file criminal charges but can recommend disciplinary actions or refer matters to the Justice Department.
Senator Cotton criticized Smith's legal maneuvers via a series of statements, suggesting they served as political tools for the Biden and Harris campaigns. He highlighted the expedited nature of Trump's trial proceedings, pointing out that such a rapid progression to trial, especially with jury selection scheduled just two weeks before the Iowa caucuses, was highly unusual for a case of this magnitude.
In 2023, Smith brought two criminal indictments against Trump, but he resigned in January of the same year before the trials could commence. His resignation followed shortly after the Justice Department sought to reverse a federal court's decision that blocked the release of Smith's investigative report on Trump's alleged attempts to influence the 2020 presidential election outcomes. Another report by Smith, concerning Trump's handling of classified documents, was also withheld from publication.