Trump’s Bold Statements on Special Counsel Jack Smith

In a recent interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, former President Donald Trump made headlines by declaring that if he were re-elected in November, he would terminate special counsel Jack Smith “within two seconds.” This statement came in response to a question about whether he would prioritize pardoning himself or dismissing Smith, who is currently investigating Trump. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 and has faced intense scrutiny from the Republican front-runner for prosecuting him over alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which Trump notably lost.

Trump asserted, “It’s so easy. I would fire him within two seconds; he’ll be one of the first things addressed,” during the interview. He further characterized Smith as a “crooked person,” emphasizing his disdain for the special counsel’s actions.

Justice Department Takeover

If Trump secures victory on November 5, he would have the authority to instruct the Justice Department to remove Smith once he is sworn in come January. However, this process isn’t as straightforward as simply dismissing Smith. As a special counsel, Smith is not a presidential appointee, meaning the president cannot unilaterally remove him from his position.

During Trump’s presidency, he faced investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller, prompting him to urge his then-White House counsel, Don McGahn, to push for Mueller’s termination. McGahn, however, resisted Trump’s requests.

Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Role

Smith has initiated two significant federal cases against Trump. The first case accuses Trump of unlawfully retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, a case that was dismissed in July, although Smith is currently appealing this decision. The second case, which is more serious, charges Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results. This case has faced delays due to a ruling from the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, which, in a 6-3 opinion, granted broad immunity for actions taken while serving as president.

Earlier this month, the Department of Justice, led by Smith, filed a comprehensive 165-page document aimed at navigating around the immunity ruling. This document argued that Trump’s actions during the January 6 riots constituted a “private criminal effort,” as he was no longer serving as president at that time.

The Final Days of the Campaign

After making his remarks about firing Smith, Hewitt raised the potential for Congress to impeach Trump for such an action. Trump, however, expressed confidence, stating, “I don’t think they’ll impeach me if I fire Jack Smith. Jack Smith is a scoundrel.”

This conversation follows a day after General John Kelly, who served as Trump’s chief of staff from 2017 to 2019, labeled Trump a “fascist” and claimed that Trump had expressed a desire to recruit “Hitler’s generals,” a claim that the Trump campaign has firmly denied.

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As the race for the presidency enters its final days, both candidates are making significant campaign stops in key swing states that will ultimately determine the election outcome. The Harris campaign has recently shifted its messaging from themes of “joy” to issuing stark warnings about her opponent’s ambitions. “We know what Donald Trump wants. He wants unchecked power,” Harris articulated in a speech on Wednesday. “The question in 13 days will be: What do the American people want?”