The Office of Special Counsel in Bridgewater, New Jersey, is investigating Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who brought two criminal cases against then-candidate Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year. Smith was appointed special counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 and has no criminal enforcement power but has the authority to impose fines and sanctions for violations. It is unclear what basis exists to contend that Smith’s investigations were political in nature or that he violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that bans certain public officials from engaging in political activity. The White House has no immediate comment on the investigation into Smith. The office has been riven by leadership tumult over the last year, with an earlier chief, Hampton Dellinger, being abruptly fired by the Trump administration.
A watchdog agency is investigating former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith for alleged illegal political activities.
