Americans are becoming more interested in probing into the past actions of Special Counsel Jack Smith, recently appointed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents, given new allegations of serious misconduct in previous investigations. A look into the actions of Smith and his team is essential to establish their integrity as they currently oversee two Trump investigations.
Rick Renzi, a former Republican Congressman from Arizona, revealed troubling allegations of misconduct by Smith’s prosecutorial team in a previous case against him. Renzi, who was granted a presidential pardon by Trump, detailed illegal wiretaps, prosecutorial misconduct, and a blatant disregard for the sanctity of attorney-client privilege.
Democrat DOJ, Jack Smith and his team could care less about ethics committing ethics violations or violating the law as long as it destroys dissidents lives
EXCLUSIVE: Previous Target of DOJ's Trump Legal Hit Squad Details Illegal Wiretaps, ‘Misconduct’ https://t.co/sStfq4g8ay
— T.S. Waters (@Never_Alt_Left) June 17, 2023
Renzi recounted that Smith’s team had illegally wiretapped his attorney 41 times. The team not only lied about their activities, but they also tried to utilize the acquired evidence against him. A 2019 legal filing on Renzi’s behalf described “widespread misconduct” and deliberate recording of “privileged phone calls.”
Though the actions were carried out by a member of Smith’s prosecutorial team, Smith was responsible for overseeing his team and holding them accountable. Renzi highlighted that all government agents become liable once illicit activities are brought before a judge.
Today, Trump faces the same alleged misconduct as Renzi, where the DOJ purportedly is attempting to use protected attorney-client conversations against him. Trump’s legal team argues that Smith and his colleague, David Harbach, are misrepresenting the former President’s privileged communication to claim a crime. These actions highlight the crucial issue of maintaining attorney-client privilege, a cornerstone of our justice system.
Renzi is not alone in his protest. Timothy Parlatore, a former criminal defense attorney for Trump, accused Smith’s team of crossing a “red line” during his grand jury testimony. Parlatore contends that the government made several attempts to infringe on attorney-client privilege, further stoking concerns of prosecutorial misconduct.
This mounting evidence of misconduct puts into question the impartiality of Smith, the man steering the current investigations into Trump. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) recently echoed this sentiment, stating that Smith’s past actions hint at a biased approach to his prosecutions. These incidents shed light on the Justice Department’s need to hold itself to the highest standards of conduct and impartiality. Yet, despite the allegations, Attorney General Merrick Garland continues to defend Smith staunchly. As a result, Garland is doing little to quell the rising public concern over the potentially skewed application of justice.
Grassley rightly reminds us that secure documents should remain safe, no matter who is involved. However, there’s an increasing perception of an “unequal application of the law,” as Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) points out when it comes to prominent figures from different sides of the political aisle.
The justice system’s role is to ensure that the rule of law applies to all without bias or partiality. As Smith leads high-profile investigations, the onus is on him and the DOJ to demonstrate the utmost respect for due process and legal integrity.
