Former Adviser Defends Trump Amid Investigation

Jack Smith, a former special adviser, has, through his legal team, asserted that two charges against former President Donald Trump—filed prior to the 2024 elections—are baseless, arguing that he acted within the law.

This letter-like response came out on Tuesday following news that the government’s watchdog had initiated an inquiry into Smith under the Department of Justice.

“The basis for this investigation lacks any factual grounding,” stated lawyers Lanny Brewer and Peter Koski from Covington and Burling in their correspondence.

This communication was directed to Jamieson Greer, head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which confirmed last month it was looking into Smith following a referral from Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK).

According to ABC, the letters continued:

A review of historical records shows significant opposition. Mr. Smith was firmly committed to making prosecutorial decisions based solely on evidence.

Fox reported, “Mr. Smith’s actions as a special adviser were consistent with a prosecutor who devoted his career to upholding facts and the law.”

Senator Cotton claimed that the rationale for Smith’s legal actions appears non-existent and suggested they were intended to influence the upcoming 2024 election, potentially undermining Trump’s candidacy. As noted by Breitbart News, the senator pointed to potential violations of federal laws, including the Hatch Act, which prevents federal employees from participating in political activities.

As reported by Fox:

Smith dedicated about two years to investigating and prosecuting Trump during the Biden administration, resulting in two charges. One alleged that Trump improperly handled national defense information, while the other accused him of attempting to subvert the 2020 election.

Smith ultimately dismissed both cases after Trump secured victory in the 2024 elections, which aligns with DOJ practices regarding the indictment of a sitting president.

The conclusion from Smith’s attorney stated, “If there is any intention to proceed amidst the unprecedented nature of this investigation, we insist that you engage with us so that the findings from the Special Advisor’s office are comprehensive and informed by the relevant records.”