Ballet and bioluminescence: Africa's top shots
From the BBC in Africa this week:
The would-be Congolese saint murdered 'mafia-style' for refusing bribes
Artist explores the toxic mining legacy of Zambia's 'black mountains'
Inside the Lesotho factory that made Trump golf shirts - now hit hard by US tariffs
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
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Politico
29 minutes ago
- Politico
Office of Special Counsel to probe potential Hatch Act violations by former Special Counsel Jack Smith
Trump and his allies have argued that Smith — who was chosen by former Attorney General Merrick Garland to lead the federal criminal investigations into Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents — was conducting a 'witch hunt.' Two weeks before the election, Trump said that Smith should be 'thrown out of the country.' 'Jack Smith should be considered mentally deranged and he should be thrown out of the country,' Trump said on a radio show in October. The Justice Department has focused much of its resources and time — as it deals with the fallout and criticism from its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein saga — on the alleged wrongdoings of former Biden DOJ officials, including Smith. Earlier this year, it launched the 'Weaponization Working Group,' which is tasked with, among other things, reviewing efforts by Smith's team during the Biden administration. The investigation was first reported on Friday by the New York Post. Neither the White House nor a representative for Smith immediately responded to requests for comment. Since Smith is a former government employee, it's not entirely clear what action the independent agency could take if it finds he violated the Hatch Act. When asked about potential actions against Smith, an OSC spokesperson declined to comment.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Watchdog agency investigating ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith for alleged illegal political activity
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who brought two criminal cases against then-candidate Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year. The Office of Special Counsel confirmed Saturday that it was investigating Smith on allegations he engaged in political activity through his inquiries into Trump. Smith was named special counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 and his special counsel title is entirely distinct from the agency now investigating him. The office has no criminal enforcement power but does have the authority to impose fines and other sanctions for violations. It was not clear what basis exists to contend that Smith's investigations were political in nature or that he violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that bans certain public officials from engaging in political activity. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, had earlier this week encouraged the office to scrutinize Smith's activities and had alleged that his conduct was designed to help then-President Joe Biden and his vice president Kamala Harris, both Democrats. Smith brought two cases against Trump, one accusing him of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the other of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Both were brought in 2023, well over a year before the 2024 presidential election, and indictments in the two cases cited what Smith and his team described as clear violations of well-established federal law. Garland has repeatedly said politics played no part in the handling of the cases. Both cases were abandoned by Smith after Trump's November win , with the prosecutor citing longstanding Justice Department policy prohibiting the indictment of a sitting president. There was no immediate indication that the same office investigating Smith had opened investigations into the Justice Department special counsels who were appointed by Garland to investigate Biden and his son Hunter. The White House had no immediate comment on the investigation into Smith, which was first reported by The New York Post. The office has been riven by leadership tumult over the last year. An earlier chief, Hampton Dellinger, was abruptly fired by the Trump administration and initially sued to get his job back before abandoning the court fight. Trump's trade representative, Jamieson Greer, is also serving as acting special counsel. Trump selected as his replacement Paul Ingrassia, a former right-wing podcast host who has praised criminally charged influencer Andrew Tate as a 'extraordinary human being' and promoted the false claim that the 2020 election was rigged. A Senate panel was set to consider his nomination at a hearing last month, but it was pulled from the agenda. ___ Tucker reported from Washington. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Federal authorities investigating former special counsel Jack Smith, who indicted Trump
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Federal officials have opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who indicted then-candidate Donald Trump on felony charges before his election to a second term. The current Office of Special Counsel, traditionally an independent federal agency, on Saturday confirmed the investigation after reporting by other news organizations. Smith was named special counsel by then-Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland to investigate Trump in November 2022 for his actions related to trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden and his hoarding of classified documents at his home in Florida. Trump and his Republican allies, including Sen. Tom Cotton, have — without offering evidence of wrongdoing — accused Smith of violating the Hatch Act, a federal law that bans certain public officials from engaging in political activity. Smith prosecuted two federal cases against Trump and indicted him on multiple felony charges in both. He dropped both cases after Trump won the election in November, as a sitting president is shielded from prosecution according to long-standing Justice Department practice. Smith then subsequently resigned as special counsel. Cotton (R-Ark.) on Wednesday asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate Smith, alleging that his conduct was designed to help then-President Biden and then-Vice Presiedent Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee in last year's race against Trump. Trump is the only felon to ever occupy the White House, having been convicted in May 2024 on 34 criminal counts for fraud related to a hush-money payment to a porn star before the 2016 election, which he also won. The New York Post was first to report on the investigation into Smith. Superville writes for the Associated Press.
