US Office of Special Counsel Investigates Ex-Prosecutor Jack Smith for Potential Hatch Act Violations

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has initiated an inquiry into former special counsel Jack Smith, focusing on allegations that he may have unlawfully targeted former President Donald Trump. The investigation centers on whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits government employees from engaging in certain political activities. According to Fox News, the OSC confirmed the probe, clarifying that Smith is not currently facing criminal charges. The OSC functions as an independent federal watchdog responsible for investigations and prosecutions. In July, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) requested an inquiry into whether Smith, who served as special counsel under former Attorney General Merrick Garland, engaged in illegal political actions aimed at influencing the 2020 presidential election and specifically targeting Trump. During his tenure, Smith led two criminal investigations related to Trump—one concerning the former president’s handling of classified documents and another examining whether his actions on January 6, 2021, attempted to overturn the election results. Both investigations were eventually dismissed. An email reviewed by The New York Post indicated that th...