Jack Smith Probe ‘Suspended’ At Request of Trump ‘Political Appointees,’ Reports Reuters

Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo

Reuters reported on Thursday that the Trump administration appears to be systematically gutting the watchdog offices inside the Department of Justice that are meant to investigate misconduct within the DOJ.  The bombshell report also added that among the cases hanging in limbo is a probe into former Trump special counsel Jack Smith, which “political appointees” asked “to be suspended,” according to a source.

“In one courtroom after another, federal judges have accused U.S. President Donald Trump’s Justice Department of an extraordinary spate of misconduct, including making false statements, failing to comply with court orders and improperly using the legal system to harass political opponents,” began the Reuters report, laying out the kinds of misconduct that DOJ watchdogs are meant to investigate. The report portrays the Trump DOJ as rife with errors amid an exodus of much-needed staff.

The report noted that the two main offices tasked with correcting major missteps by DOJ officials are both in dire staffing crises. “Nearly half the workforce at the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has left during Trump’s second term, while about 17% have departed the Office of Inspector General, government records show,” added the stunning report.

The result of the staff shortages has led to one of the two offices being hit with a “20-year high” in complaints while investigations into those complaints have hit a “20-year low.”

Amid the probes that appear to have been impacted by the Trump administration’s changes to the OPR is the investigation into Smith. The OPR opened a probe into Republican lawmakers’ claims that Smith tried to influence the 2024 presidential election with his investigation into Trump and that he “ sought ‌to improperly coerce cooperation ⁠from a Trump aide.”

“By last spring, OPR investigators had interviewed Smith, which has not been previously reported, and expected to complete the investigation by last summer, according to two people familiar with the matter. But a year later, the probe has yet to conclude. One of the people told Reuters that political appointees asked for it to be suspended,” Reuters reported, adding:

The department has since launched a separate criminal investigation into Smith, who denies any wrongdoing.

A Trump political appointee wanting the Smith probe suspended is notable given that Trump has personally and very publicly pressed for investigations into Smith.

A department spokesperson declined to answer questions about the probe. A spokesperson for Smith declined to comment.

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