Investigation Launched Into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith Over Alleged Political Misconduct
Federal authorities have opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who prosecuted cases against former President Donald Trump, for alleged violations of the Hatch Act, a law that restricts political activity by federal employees.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent federal agency tasked with enforcing the Hatch Act, confirmed the probe on August 2, 2025. The inquiry follows accusations by Republican lawmakers, notably Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who claim Smith acted with political motives aimed at aiding then-President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s reelection campaign, although no evidence has been publicly presented to support these claims.
Smith was appointed special counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to oversee two separate criminal investigations against Trump: one regarding the handling of classified documents and another related to efforts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election. Smith’s investigations resulted in criminal charges against Trump, but both cases were dropped after Trump secured reelection in November 2024, following a Justice Department tradition of not prosecuting a sitting president.
Shortly after the election, Smith resigned from his role in January 2025, just days before Trump returned to office. Sen. Cotton had urged the OSC to investigate Smith, alleging that Smith pushed for a “rushed trial” intended to influence the 2024 election outcome, describing the prosecutor’s actions as those of “a political actor masquerading as a public official.” Cotton’s call for an investigation reflects ongoing partisan disputes over the conduct of Trump-related investigations during the final months of Biden’s previous presidential term.
The investigation by the OSC was first reported by The New York Post and has since been confirmed by multiple news outlets including CBS News and ABC 7 Chicago. The White House has declined to comment on the investigation as of this writing.
Meanwhile, political dynamics around the OSC itself have been contentious. President Trump nominated Paul Ingrassia, a figure aligned with MAGA interests, to head the OSC, but the nomination remains stalled in the Senate. Earlier in 2025, Trump also dismissed the former OSC head Hampton Dellinger, underscoring heightened political tensions surrounding the agency.
The Hatch Act penalties can include removal from federal service, suspension, or civil fines if violations are found, but the specifics of the allegations against Smith have not been publicly detailed beyond the claim that his actions constituted illegal political activity.
The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected to clarify the scope and nature of the alleged Hatch Act violations by Jack Smith.
By [News Agency]