The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has launched an investigation into former Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two separate federal criminal cases against former President Donald Trump during the Biden administration, between Trump’s two presidential terms.
On Aug. 2, the Office of Special Counsel confirmed it was investigating whether Smith’s conduct through his efforts to prosecute Trump constituted a form of improper political activity. The office is an independent federal agency separate from the DOJ that is tasked with protecting federal whistleblowers and enforcing civil service law, such as the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities by federal employees. The office has no criminal enforcement power but does investigate violations and has the authority to impose fines and other sanctions.
