BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — An independent watchdog agency answerable for implementing a legislation towards partisan political exercise by federal workers has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who introduced two felony circumstances towards then-candidate Donald Trump earlier than his election to the White Home final yr.
The Workplace of Particular Counsel confirmed Saturday that it was investigating Smith on allegations he engaged in political exercise by his inquiries into Trump. Smith was named special counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 and his particular counsel title is solely distinct from the company now investigating him. The workplace has no felony enforcement energy however does have the authority to impose fines and different sanctions for violations.
It was not clear what foundation exists to contend that Smith’s investigations had been political in nature or that he violated the Hatch Act, a federal legislation that bans sure public officers from partaking in political exercise. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, had earlier this week inspired the workplace to scrutinize Smith’s actions and had alleged that his conduct was designed to assist then-President Joe Biden and his vp Kamala Harris, each Democrats.
Smith introduced two circumstances towards Trump, one accusing him of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the other of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Each had been introduced in 2023, properly over a yr earlier than the 2024 presidential election, and indictments within the two circumstances cited what Smith and his staff described as clear violations of well-established federal legislation. Garland has repeatedly stated politics performed no half within the dealing with of the circumstances.
Both cases were abandoned by Smith after Trump’s November win, with the prosecutor citing longstanding Justice Division coverage prohibiting the indictment of a sitting president.
There was no speedy indication that the identical workplace investigating Smith had opened investigations into the Justice Division particular counsels who had been appointed by Garland to research Biden and his son Hunter.
The White Home had no speedy touch upon the investigation into Smith, which was first reported by The New York Publish.
The workplace has been riven by management tumult over the past yr. An earlier chief, Hampton Dellinger, was abruptly fired by the Trump administration and initially sued to get his job again earlier than abandoning the court docket struggle. Trump’s commerce consultant, Jamieson Greer, can also be serving as performing particular counsel.
Trump selected as his replacement Paul Ingrassia, a former right-wing podcast host who has praised criminally charged influencer Andrew Tate as a “extraordinary human being” and promoted the false declare that the 2020 election was rigged. A Senate panel was set to contemplate his nomination at a listening to final month, however it was pulled from the agenda.
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Tucker reported from Washington.
