00:00Jack Smith, the man who investigated Donald Trump in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election,
00:06is now himself being investigated by the Office of Special Counsel, as first reported in U.S. media.
00:13The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency, confirmed to NBC News on Saturday
00:19that it's investigating Smith for alleged violations of the Hatch Act,
00:23a law that prohibits certain political activities by government officials.
00:27Trump and his allies have not presented specific evidence of wrongdoing.
00:32Unlike the type of Special Counsel's office previously led by Jack Smith,
00:37the Office of Special Counsel, or the OSC, is an independent agency that can't bring criminal charges
00:43but can recommend disciplinary actions like removing federal employees
00:47or referring findings to the Department of Justice for further investigation.
00:51The decision follows a complaint by Republican Senator Tom Cotton,
00:56who claims without evidence that Smith violated the Hatch Act,
01:00a federal law that bars public officials from political activity.
01:04He says Smith's actions supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign
01:11before Biden's withdrawal.
01:13Donald Trump then went on to win the presidency.
01:16Jack Smith was appointed Special Counsel in November 2022
01:20to oversee the federal investigations into Trump,
01:23who announced he'd be running for president three days before Smith's appointment.
01:28Jack Smith then went on to indict Trump on two criminal charges
01:32but resigned just days before Trump's 2024 inauguration,
01:36leaving both cases unresolved.
01:39He has since denied any wrongdoing.
01:41his name is Charlie Winkman.
01:43Jack Smith was nominee.
01:44Jack Smith was appointed for last couple days
01:44of his
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