American Justice System
US Justice Department Appoints New Counsel To Investigate Trump
An independent lawyer has been appointed to oversee the US justice department’s criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump.
Eko Hot Blog reports Jack Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor, was named special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in a news conference.
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He will lead investigations into how Mr Trump handled classified documents and his alleged role in the Capitol riot.
Mr Trump, who is the subject of several other inquiries, denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Smith will ultimately decide whether the former Republican president, who announced his 2024 candidacy just three days ago, will face criminal charges.
“In certain extraordinary cases it is in the public interest to appoint a special prosecutor to independently manage an investigation and prosecution,” Mr Garland said on Friday.
“Due to recent developments, including the former president’s announcement that he is a candidate in the next election, and the sitting president’s intention to be a candidate as well, I have concluded that it is in the public interest.”
He said the move would give the public confidence in the investigation.
“I have never heard of such a thing, ” Mr Trump said on Friday after the decision was announced.
“They found nothing. I announce and then they appoint a special prosecutor. This is a disgrace and only happening because I am leading in every poll,” he said.
Mr Smith is a former prosecutor in New York and most recently served a chief prosecutor in the Hague where he investigated war crimes in Kosovo.
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He will be returning to the US to begin his work immediately, Mr Garland said.
Source: BBC
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