Office of Special Counsel Investigates Ex-Prosecutor Jack Smith for Hatch Act Violation

The Office of Special Counsel has launched an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led criminal probes into President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to subvert the 2020 election. The investigation centers on potential violations of the Hatch Act, which restricts certain political activities of federal employees, although Smith resigned from the Justice Department before Trump took office in 2025. Smith’s investigations resulted in criminal charges against Trump but were closed following Trump’s reelection, as presidential immunity protects sitting presidents from prosecution. Republican figures, including Senator Tom Cotton, have called for this probe, alleging Smith acted with political motives to influence the 2024 election, though no evidence has been presented to substantiate such claims. The Office of Special Counsel operates as an independent watchdog, currently led in an acting capacity by a Trump appointee after the previous head was dismissed. While violating the Hatch Act is not a crime and responses vary, this investigation reflects ongoing political tensions and retaliatory actions by Trump and his allies against those involved in investigations against him.