In a bold move, Sen. Tom Cotton, the Republican chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has demanded an investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith, accusing him of attempting to sway the 2024 presidential election against Donald Trump. In a letter to Acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer, obtained by Fox News on July 30, 2025, Cotton alleges that Smith’s legal actions as special counsel under the Biden administration were timed and executed to influence the election outcome, potentially breaking federal law.
Cotton’s accusations center on Smith’s role in investigating Trump for two high-profile cases: efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and the handling of classified documents found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The senator claims Smith’s actions, such as rushing trial dates and releasing sensitive information, had no purpose other than to damage Trump’s campaign. “These actions were not standard, necessary, or justified—unless Smith’s real purpose was to influence the election,” Cotton wrote.
One key example Cotton highlights is Smith’s push to fast-track a trial related to an August 2023 indictment against Trump, which charged the former president with crimes like conspiracy to defraud the United States. Cotton notes that Smith demanded the trial begin in January 2024, with jury selection set just two weeks before the Iowa Caucuses—a critical moment in the presidential race. Typically, defendants in such complex cases get over two years to prepare, but Trump’s team was given less than six months to review millions of pages of evidence.
Cotton also points to Smith’s attempt to bypass standard legal processes. In December 2023, after Trump filed a defense in a District of Columbia court, Smith sought an expedited appeals court review and even petitioned the Supreme Court to skip the district court entirely. Cotton argues Smith provided no valid reason for this rush, suggesting it was a tactic to pressure Trump before the election.
Perhaps most striking is Cotton’s claim that Smith violated the Justice Department’s “60-day rule,” which bars prosecutorial actions that could affect an election within 60 days of voting. On September 26, 2024, just weeks before the election, Smith filed a 165-page brief—four times the usual length—containing grand jury testimony that is typically kept confidential at that stage. Cotton calls this a “deliberate and underhanded effort” to release damaging allegations at a pivotal moment.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Cotton references President Biden’s public call during the campaign for Trump to be “locked up,” suggesting a broader effort to weaponize the legal system against the Republican nominee. Despite Trump’s victory in 2024, Cotton insists that Smith’s actions warrant scrutiny. “President Trump’s astounding victory doesn’t excuse Smith of responsibility for his unlawful election interference,” he wrote, urging Greer’s office to investigate whether Smith or his team acted with political motives.
The Office of Special Counsel, tasked with ensuring federal employees avoid partisan activity in their roles, has not yet responded to Cotton’s request. Fox News reached out to Smith for comment but received no reply. As this story unfolds, it raises serious questions about the intersection of law and politics, with Cotton’s letter signaling a push for accountability in how federal investigations are conducted during election seasons.
