Arizona Attorney General Seeks Access to Smith Files

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has formally requested the Department of Justice to provide her office with former Special Counsel Jack Smith's case file related to the investigation of Donald Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Mayes's request is motivated by a grand jury indictment in Arizona that charges 18 individuals, including Trump allies such as Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, with election fraud. The Attorney General's letter highlights her commitment to prosecuting those involved in the scheme and emphasizes the importance of obtaining Smith's findings to ensure accountability. She argues that federal law allows the DOJ to disclose grand jury information for use in state prosecutions, despite ongoing legal challenges regarding the release of Smith's report. The request comes as the DOJ is embroiled in a legal battle over the release of Smith's findings, with a deadline set for the DOJ's response just before Trump's inauguration. Mayes asserts that access to the report will be crucial for her office to continue its work against those accused of attempting to undermine democracy in 2020.