Sen. Tom Cotton, a prominent figure in the Senate Intelligence Committee, has demanded that the Justice Department initiate an investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith for alleged unlawful actions that may have influenced the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Cotton outlined specific concerns about Smith’s conduct as a special counsel under the Biden-led Justice Department. He accused Smith of taking steps that could be interpreted as political interference, such as fast-tracking the prosecution of Trump and altering the timeline of legal procedures to coincide with the forthcoming election.
Cotton’s allegations point to a series of actions Smith took, which he claims were not standard or legally justified. Among these was the expedited trial date and jury selection for Trump’s case, which was scheduled only two weeks before the Iowa Caucuses. Cotton argued that typically, defendants have more time to prepare for such trials, suggesting that the timing was suspiciously aligned with the election.
Additionally, Cotton criticized Smith for bypassing routine judicial processes and making requests to the appeals court and even the Supreme Court, which he believes may have been an attempt to influence the election. The Justice Department’s ’60-day rule,’ which governs actions that could affect an upcoming election, was also cited as a potential violation by Smith, due to his actions following the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity just over a month before the election.
While Smith’s investigations originally focused on Trump’s actions related to the 2020 election and the classified documents from the Mar-a-Lago raid, Cotton maintains that the legal actions were consistently aimed at impacting the election rather than seeking justice. Cotton also referenced Biden’s earlier statements calling for Trump to be ‘locked up,’ suggesting that a broader political context influenced the conduct of these investigations.
Cotton argues that despite Trump’s significant election victory, the actions of Smith and the Justice Department in the lead-up to the election should be scrutinized to ensure that the legal system remained impartial and not subject to political motivations. He concludes by asking the Office of Special Counsel to conduct a thorough examination into whether Smith or any of his team acted unconstitutionally.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Smith for a response but has not yet received any, leaving the matter pending further developments.
As the tension surrounding the 2024 election continues to escalate, Cotton’s call for a probe highlights the ongoing concerns about the potential for political bias within the legal processes that are meant to ensure fair elections.