OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, fed up with the Biden Justice Department’s unprecedented targeting of former President Donald Trump, has introduced legislation that would defund special counsel Jack Smith’s ongoing investigation ahead of another possible indictment.
The Florida Republican’s bill comes as Robert Hur, a special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate President Joe Biden’s mishandling of classified documents, hasn’t been heard from much since he was authorized in January. It also comes as Trump predicted on Tuesday that Smith would soon indict him over the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
“I will be introducing legislation to DEFUND Jack Smith’s witch hunt against President Trump,” Gaetz wrote on Twitter just hours after Trump’s announcement on Truth Social.
“They are attacking our democracy and engaging in election interference right now. The United States Congress has the capability to stop this election interference, and we must act immediately!” Gaetz noted further.
In a video clip of his podcast posted along with his remarks, Gaetz argued that Trump would not be facing such legal jeopardy if he wasn’t leading President Joe Biden in a growing number of polls.
In addition, the GOP lawmaker ripped what he described as a “lack of transparency” from the Justice Department regarding who is actually involved in the probe, referencing concerns about “the team of vicious Democrats” who were a part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s ‘Russia collusion’ probe stemming from Trump’s 2016 campaign.
BREAKING: I will be introducing legislation to DEFUND Jack Smith’s witch hunt against President Trump.
They are attacking our democracy and engaging in election interference right now.
The United States Congress has the capability to stop this election interference, and we must… pic.twitter.com/g8ZAc4PAyb
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) July 18, 2023
Fox News added:
Gaetz’s bill comes after Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges stemming from Smith’s investigation into his alleged improper retention of classified records at Mar-a-Lago last month.
The charges include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements. The indictment is the first time in U.S. history that a former president has faced federal criminal charges.
Trump is also facing 34 felony charges in New York for allegedly falsifying business records.
“Deranged Jack Smith, the prosecutor with Joe Biden’s DOJ, sent a letter (again, it was Sunday night!) stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Tuesday.
“A target letter from federal prosecutors to Trump makes clear that prosecutors are focused on Trump’s actions in the investigation into overturning the 2020 election – and not just of those around him who tried to stop his election loss,” added CNN.
“Justice Department regulations allow for prosecutors to notify subjects of an investigation that they have become a target. Often a notification that a person is a target is a strong sign an indictment could follow, but it is possible the recipient is not ultimately charged. Those notifications aren’t required, but prosecutors have the discretion to notify subjects that they have become a target. Once informed, a target has the opportunity to present evidence or testify to the grand jury if they choose,” the outlet added.
Trump said he received the letter on Sunday and that he expects to face both an arrest and an indictment.
Smith is also going after Trump over his handling of classified documents that were located at Mar-a-Lago last year.
Smith and his team have also responded to a request from lawyers representing Trump to delay his trial over alleged mishandling of classified documents until at least after the 2024 election.
