Independent Watchdog Investigates Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith

Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who brought two criminal cases against President Donald Trump, is under investigation by the independent Office of Special Counsel for alleged violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits certain political activities by federal employees. The investigation was initiated following requests from Republican Senator Tom Cotton and other GOP figures who argue that Smith's inquiries into Trump were politically motivated to benefit Democrats President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Smith's cases involved accusations against Trump of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents, both initiated well before the 2024 presidential election and later dropped after Trump's election victory due to Justice Department policy against indicting a sitting president. The independent watchdog agency, which lacks criminal enforcement power but can impose sanctions, has not specified the basis for the allegations that Smith's investigations were political. Meanwhile, Smith resigned in January 2025 before trials began, and the debate over the politicization of federal investigations continues amid broader political tensions in Washington. The investigation highlights ongoing partisan disputes over the handling of legal cases involving President Trump and federal law enforcement.