Jack Smith Special Counsel To Investigate Trump's Activities
WEB Jack Smith is appointed special counsel to oversee criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump
John Luman Smith an American attorney and a Harvard Law graduate assumes the role of special counsel to investigate Trump's activities
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday appointed Jack Smith, a veteran prosecutor, as special counsel to oversee the criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
The appointment of a special counsel is a significant development in the Justice Department’s investigations into Trump. It gives Smith independence from the department’s leadership and allows him to make decisions about whether to charge Trump without interference from Garland or President Joe Biden.
Smith, 63, is a highly respected prosecutor who has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations. He was the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the chief of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section.
In a statement, Garland said he appointed Smith because he is “a person of integrity and impeccable credentials.” He said Smith has “a distinguished career as a prosecutor and has the experience and skills necessary to conduct this investigation in a fair and impartial manner.”
The appointment of a special counsel is a rare step. The Justice Department has only appointed a handful of special counsels in its history, including Kenneth Starr, who investigated President Bill Clinton, and Robert Mueller, who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The appointment of a special counsel is a sign that the Justice Department is taking the investigations into Trump seriously. It is also a sign that the department is aware of the public’s concerns about the potential for political interference in the investigations.
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