Federal agency opens inquiry into ex-special counsel Jack Smith over Trump investigations | Trump administration

US Special Consulting Office, Independent Federal Agency, Approved to NBC News On Saturday, he is investigating the former Ministry of Justice Prosecutor Jack Smith for possible violations of the Hatch Law.

Smith led to investigations in Donald Trump’s Capitol Riot on January 6, and claimed that classified documents were misused.

The confirmation of an investigation comes after the Republican Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton demanded that 56 -year -old Smith be investigated for ilgi unprecedented intervention in the 2024 elections ”last week.

The Hatch Law, a federal law adopted in 1939, limits certain political activities of federal employees. Together with other leading Republican MPs, Trump argued that Smith’s investigations into Trump mean illegal political activity.

In 2020, Smith was appointed as a special consultant by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to investigate the potential intervention of Trump’s proposal for a second term – 2020 elections and the potential intervention of classified documents.

However, the US Special Consulting Office is different from the type of special consultant position appointed by the Justice Department organized by Smith, which investigates Smith.

As an independent federal agency, he deprived the authority to impose criminal charges, but instead may receive disciplinary penalties for a federal government employee or refer his findings to the Ministry of Justice for investigation.

A series Social media messages On Wednesday, Cotton said that Smith’s legal actions were nothing but a tool for Biden and Harris campaigns. This is not only unethical, but a very illegal campaign activity than a public office. ”

Cotton said Smith pushed for a distinguished, rush trial to start just two weeks before the Iowa meetings with the jury selection.

Smith ultimately brought two criminal indictments against Trump in 2023, but resigned in January this year before he was tried.

His resignation arrived shortly after the Ministry of Justice asked a Federal Court to reversed the order of a judge, and prevented the publication of the investigation report focused on Trump’s efforts to reclaim the 2020 presidential elections. A second Smith written report on Trump’s handling classified documents was also published.