Former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two criminal prosecutions against President Donald Trump before the real estate mogul's 2024 election victory, fired back against a reported investigation into his handling of those cases, according to a letter obtained by USA TODAY.
"This investigation is premised on a partisan complaint that suggests the ordinary operation of the criminal justice system should be disrupted by the whims of a political contest," wrote two lawyers, Lanny A. Breuer and Peter Koski, on Smith's behalf.
The investigation into Smith is one of several under the Trump administration that have prompted fears that Trump is using his second term to engage in a revenge campaign against perceived enemies. Some of the president's supporters argue that such investigations are important to correct previous overreach.
On Aug. 22, FBI agents raided the home of former national security adviser and fierce Trump critic John Bolton. The bureau said it had court authorization for the search, but didn't elaborate on the specifics of the investigation. The Justice Department has also reportedly opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a major civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his business associates.