Watchdog Fights DOJ For Transparency Into Trump Investigations
In a definitive legal move to demand accountability and transparency from the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ), conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch has filed a lawsuit seeking the names of special counsel Jack Smith’s staff involved in the ongoing investigations concerning former President Donald Trump.
Judicial Watch’s litigation comes in the wake of the DOJ’s refusal to comply with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request initiated in December 2022, demanding the release of rosters of Smith’s staff. The DOJ insisted such disclosure would equate to a “clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy” and could potentially interfere with enforcement proceedings.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith to lead the investigations relating to Trump, including the alleged mishandling of classified materials. This special counsel assignment was announced shortly after Trump declared his intent to run in the 2024 presidential race, raising eyebrows among conservative circles. Smith, who has found himself at the heart of several contentious issues in the past, including the infamous IRS scandal, now faces scrutiny as Judicial Watch pushes for transparency.
“Given the overwhelming evidence of anti-Trump bias disclosed in the Durham Report, Americans must be able to find out who is again investigating Trump from the Garland Justice Department and his appointee Jack Smith,” expressed Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, underlining the urgency for transparency in the face of potential bias.
Among Smith’s cases are two pivotal investigations—one surrounding Trump’s retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence post-presidency and another involving his challenge to the 2020 election results. Notably, Garland named Smith to the position mere days following Trump’s 2024 candidacy announcement, raising further questions about the investigation’s impartiality.
The new case filed by Judicial Watch follows its pattern of dogged determination to uncover truths embedded within the administrative fabric. Previously, the watchdog organization unveiled information about Special Counsel Mueller’s budget and staff, obtained records about Special Counsel Durham’s budget, and exposed calendar entries of Mueller special counsel prosecutor Andrew Weissmann.
In 2014, the group uncovered that Smith communicated with top IRS officials about a potential plan to launch criminal investigations into conservative tax-exempt groups. This attempt was later condemned as an attempt to silence conservative voices.
As Fitton firmly stated, “Special Prosecutor Jack Smith isn’t above the law, and the American people have the right to know about who is working on his unprecedented and politicized anti-Trump investigation.”
In an era marked by polarization and skepticism, Judicial Watch’s efforts to ensure accountability are a vital safeguard of American democracy. While the question of bias within the DOJ’s investigations into Trump remains debatable, the need for transparency is non-negotiable.
