After the Department of Justice (DOJ) designated a special counsel to take charge of an investigation relating to presidential records that were retained by Trump, the former president declared that he would not participate in the probe.
“I have been going through this for six years—for six years I have been going through this, and I am not going to go through it anymore. And I hope the Republicans have the courage to fight this.”
Garland claimed to have nominated former DOJ public integrity chief Jack Smith to lead the agency’s investigations into Trump, including whether he handled papers improperly and particulars of the inquiry into the Jan. 6 Capitol hack.
Garland has determined that it is in the public interest to appoint a special counsel in light of recent developments, including the former president’s statement that he is a contender for president in the upcoming election and the current president’s declared plan to run as well.
Trump, meanwhile, asserted that earlier inquiries had produced no results and that Garland’s announcement was politicized. On Tuesday night, the former president declared his intention to run for office in 2024.
Garland reacted to Trump’s 2024 statement by saying that Smith’s appointment as a special counsel is the correct move to make and that the unusual circumstances necessitate it. Smith is the best person to handle these tasks in a timely and impartial manner.
According to the attorney general, this nomination highlights the department’s dedication to independence and responsibility in particularly delicate situations. Additionally, it enables agents and prosecutors to work quickly and to make choices that are unquestionably based solely on the truth and the law.
