Former Trump prosecutor investigated for election interference

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has launched a formal investigation into former Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, alleging that his prosecutions of Donald Trump were politically motivated attempts to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. Knewz.com has learned that the probe marks the first official legal inquiry into Smith’s conduct since his resignation earlier this year, and comes after growing criticism from Republicans.

Office of Special Counsel confirms investigation into former Trump prosecutor

According to reports, the Office of Special Counsel’s Hatch Act Unit has begun evaluating Smith’s actions. The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits government employees from engaging in partisan political activities. An email, written by Senior Counsel Charles Baldis at OSC, confirmed that Smith’s work is under scrutiny. The review follows a letter sent earlier by Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who urged the agency to examine whether Smith’s investigations into Trump crossed legal boundaries. “I appreciate the Office of Special Counsel taking this seriously and launching an investigation into Jack Smith’s conduct. No one is above the law. … Jack Smith’s actions were clearly driven to hurt President Trump’s election, and Smith should be held fully accountable,” Senator Cotton said in a statement.

Smith’s role in Trump investigations

Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, was tasked with overseeing two criminal probes into Trump. One into his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House, and another into whether his actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack amounted to an effort to overturn the 2020 election. While both cases were eventually dismissed, they became flashpoints in the 2024 presidential race. Republicans argued that Smith’s decisions were designed to hinder Trump’s campaign, while Democrats defended them as legitimate legal inquiries. Smith stepped down as special counsel in January 2025, shortly after Trump returned to the presidency.

Allegations of election interference

Senator Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been one of Smith’s most vocal critics. In his letter to OSC, Cotton argued that Smith “took blatantly political action to undermine President Trump in his 2024 bid,” per reports. Cotton further alleged that Smith manipulated the pace of his investigations to coincide with key campaign events. “These actions were not standard, necessary or justified. … They were the actions of a political actor masquerading as a public official,” he wrote.

‘Nothing more than a tool for the Biden and Harris campaigns’

In another statement, Senator Cotton added, “Jack Smith’s legal actions were nothing more than a tool for the Biden and Harris campaigns. This isn’t just unethical, it is very likely illegal campaign activity from a public office. … Many of Smith’s legal actions seem to have no rationale except for an attempt to affect the 2024 election results – actions that would violate federal law.” Smith has not publicly addressed Cotton’s allegations or the OSC’s review. During his tenure, he repeatedly insisted that his prosecutions were based on legal standards and not influenced by political considerations.

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