The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, on Saturday launched an investigation into former Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith for potential violations of the Hatch Act—a federal law that limits political activity by government employees.
The probe comes after Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas formally requested an investigation, accusing Smith of “unprecedented interference” in the 2024 presidential election through his legal actions targeting President Donald Trump.
Smith, who previously served as a DOJ prosecutor, was appointed as special counsel in 2022 by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. His appointment came just three days after Trump announced his campaign for a second term in the White House. Smith was tasked with leading investigations into Trump’s role in the January 6 Capitol breach and his alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Critics, especially from within the Republican Party, have argued that the investigations were politically motivated and timed to damage Trump’s 2024 campaign efforts. Smith’s aggressive legal strategy, including fast-tracking trial proceedings, has been at the center of these concerns.
In a series of social media statements last week, Senator Cotton blasted Smith’s actions, claiming they were “nothing more than a tool for the Biden and Harris campaigns.” Cotton argued that