Office Of Special Counsel Launches Investigation Into Ex-trump Prosecutor Jack Smith

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an independent national agency, is investigating erstwhile typical counsel Jack Smith for alleged governmental violations of nan Hatch Act, an accusation levied by President Donald Trump and different salient Republicans but one, arsenic publically presented, void of circumstantial grounds of wrongdoing.

Notably, nan OSC, which is different than an agency of a typical counsel appointed by nan Department of Justice, lacks nan authority to bring criminal charges and prosecute individuals who break nan Hatch Act. The OSC whitethorn activity disciplinary action for a national authorities employee, specified arsenic removal from nan civilian workforce, aliases mention its findings of Hatch Act violations to nan DOJ for investigation.

On Wednesday, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., requested that nan OSC analyse Smith for “unprecedented interference successful nan 2024 election.” The OSC confirmed to NBC News connected Saturday that it is investigating nan alleged violations, and a root acquainted says nan OSC affirmed to Cotton that it is proceeding pinch its enquiry aft his request.

Smith was tapped arsenic typical counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland successful November 2022 to oversee nan national investigations into Trump, who announced his candidacy for nan presidency 3 days earlier Smith’s appointment. Smith would spell connected to bring 2 criminal indictments against then-candidate Trump successful 2023 but resigned conscionable complete 1 week earlier Trump’s inauguration successful January 2024 — without ever having brought nan 2 cases to trial.

“Jack Smith’s ineligible actions were thing much than a instrumentality for nan Biden and Harris campaigns,” Cotton wrote connected X, this week. “This isn’t conscionable unethical, it is very apt forbidden run activity from a nationalist office.”

Cotton, successful part, alleges that Smith pushed for a “rushed trial” for Trump. The Republican lawmaker has not publically presented grounds that specifications really Smith’s actions were forbidden successful nature.

Hatch Act violations are not typically referred to nan Department of Justice. In 2019, nan OSC recommended that then-President Trump region White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway from nan national workforce for Hatch Act violations — but nan matter was not sent to nan DOJ.

The OSC investigation was first reported by nan NY Post.

Trump’s nominee to caput nan OSC is stalled successful nan Senate. A White House charismatic told NBC News that Paul Ingrassia, a erstwhile podcast big pinch a history of incendiary commentary, is gathering pinch senators successful one-on-one meetings complete nan adjacent period earlier a confirmation ballot takes place.