Jack Smith, a hard-charging, flinty veteran Justice Department prosecutor selected for his experience in pursuing high-stakes cases against politicians in the United States and overseas, was assigned in November to investigate former President Donald J. Trump.
He was given two investigations into Mr. Trump by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland: one into his attempt to rig the 2020 election, including the events leading up to the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the other into Mr. Trump’s retention of sensitive information at his Florida home.
Jack Smith Has A Tough Decision To Make
Jack Smith underlined his quick thinking in his lone public speech since being appointed, promising that “the pace of the inquiries will not stop or waver under our watch.”
The special counsel & his staff are under a lot of strain. But Jack Smith, a very competitive athlete who has taken on several of the most difficult public corruption cases the agency has ever encountered, seems to be handling it just fine.
For instance, during a crucial meeting with Mr. Trump’s attorneys on Monday to discuss a letter notifying them that a prosecution was near, Mr. Smith sat impassively, saying little, and letting subordinates do most of the talking, according to someone familiar with the situation.
Mr. Garland announced Mr. Smith’s appointment, stating that he was “the right choice to complete these issues in an evenhanded and urgent manner.” Mr. Smith had been the lead prosecutor overseeing the The Hague investigation into war crimes in Kosovo.
The Justice Department has been charged by Mr. Trump. And congressional Republicans of conducting a politically motivated probe meant to thwart Mr. Trump’s prospects of taking back the White House, including by disclosing case-specific information. However, department insiders said that Mr. Smith, 54, is determined to carry out a thorough inquiry in secret. Furthermore, Mr. Smith has declined to even address the inquiries of reporters who sought him outside his northeast Washington office.