In the final weeks before Jack Smith resigned from his position as special counsel, he received a significant amount of legal support—$140,000 worth of free services.
Smith, who led two criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump, stepped down on January 10, just days after Trump boasted about firing him if he were to win the election.
Smith’s Investigations into Trump
During his time as special counsel, Jack Smith was responsible for investigating Donald Trump in two major cases.
The first involved Trump’s alleged illegal retention of classified documents and his attempts to obstruct the investigation.
The second was a grand jury indictment related to Trump’s involvement in the effort to overturn the 2020 election results and his actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
Despite the intense investigations, both cases were dropped following Trump’s election victory, as sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.
Retaining Outside Counsel Amid Growing Tensions
Smith’s decision to hire outside counsel from Peter Koski at Covington & Burling, the largest law firm in Washington, D.C., came before his resignation.
The legal services he received were listed in his final public disclosure report under gifts and travel reimbursements.
Public officials are allowed to accept such services under an ethics rule from 2023, provided the services are related to their official duties and are approved by ethics officials.
Though it’s unclear why Smith sought outside counsel, it came at a time when Trump’s rhetoric against his political opponents, including Smith, was escalating.
Trump had already targeted various members of Smith’s team, firing lawyers who worked under him and those who prosecuted January 6 rioters.
Republican Backlash and Calls for Investigation
Despite the approval of Smith’s pro bono legal services by ethics officials, some Republican figures are calling for an investigation into the matter.
Ed Martin, Trump’s new attorney general, made public comments about the situation, suggesting that Smith and his law firm would be scrutinized soon.
Smith’s legal expenses were also a point of contention, with some accusing him of overseeing the “weaponization” of the Justice Department.
Trump’s attorney general, Pam Bondi, even set up a “working group” to investigate the department, targeting Smith’s actions and the $50 million spent during the Trump investigations.
Connections at Covington & Burling and Support for Smith
Smith has deep ties to Covington & Burling, including connections with several prominent figures at the firm.
Lanny Breuer, who has represented Smith throughout the Trump investigations, was once in charge of the Justice Department’s criminal division and recruited Smith back in 2010.
Other partners at the firm, including former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, have also been vocal supporters of Smith’s work.
As Smith’s resignation marks the end of his high-profile role in the Trump investigations, his ties to Covington & Burling and the legal services he accepted are likely to remain points of scrutiny for his critics.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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