Office of Special Counsel says it’s opened Hatch Act probe of Jack Smith
The Office of Special Counsel in the United States has officially started an investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith. The probe aims to determine whether Smith violated the Hatch Act during his criminal investigations involving former President Donald Trump.
The investigation was initiated following a request from Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas. Cotton raised concerns that Smith’s investigative and prosecutorial activities before the 2024 election were politically motivated to damage Trump’s chances of re-election.
Both Smith and former Attorney General Merrick Garland have consistently maintained that their actions in investigating classified documents and Trump’s alleged election interference were not influenced by politics. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.
Smith’s legal team has yet to comment on the OSC investigation. The cases against Trump were closed after the 2024 election due to a Department of Justice policy preventing the prosecution of a sitting president.
The Office of Special Counsel is an independent agency responsible for assisting government whistleblowers in reporting misconduct and enforcing the Hatch Act, which prohibits government employees from engaging in partisan political activities.
It remains unclear what actions the OSC could take against Smith if he is found to have violated the Hatch Act, as he is no longer a government employee. The Department of Justice is already investigating Smith and other prosecutors involved in pursuing Trump through the “Weaponization Working Group” led by former interim DC U.S. attorney Ed Martin.
The investigation into Smith comes amid increased scrutiny of the administration’s handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Top officials in the administration seem eager to shift the focus away from this issue.
In conclusion, the OSC’s investigation into Jack Smith’s conduct highlights the importance of upholding ethical standards in government investigations. The outcome of this probe could have significant implications for how future investigations are conducted.
