In a fiery outburst on social media, President Donald Trump has accused former special counsel Jack Smith and the Biden administration of targeting conservative organizations like Turning Point USA with politically motivated investigations.
This controversy centers on Trump's claims of a weaponized Justice Department, Smith's investigations into Republican groups, and ensuing legal and political battles with Senate Republicans.
The issue gained traction earlier this year when Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to express outrage over an investigation into Turning Point USA, a nonprofit co-founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012.
Trump questioned the motives behind the probe, suggesting it was an attempt to silence conservative voices.
He stated, “Why was the wonderful Turning Point under INVESTIGATION by ‘Deranged’ Jack Smith and the Corrupt & Incompetent Biden Administration?”
In another post, he added, “They tried to force Charlie, and many other people and movements, out of business. They Weaponized the Justice Department against Sleepy Joe Biden’s Political Opponents, including ME!”
The investigation, part of a broader election interference probe by Smith and the Biden administration, targeted Republican-led organizations and donors who backed Trump’s claims regarding the 2020 election.
Among the efforts was a specific operation dubbed “Arctic Frost,” which examined 92 GOP-affiliated groups and individuals.
On Tuesday, Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released audio and records related to this probe, shedding light on its extensive reach.
Grassley also highlighted past actions during the Trump administration, noting the removal of certain FBI agents for alleged partisan behavior.
He remarked, “Since the Trump administration took power, many FBI agents have been removed. The removals included agents and prosecutors who became partisan weapons that lost their way, and I’ve made records public to prove it.”
Additionally, Senate Republicans initiated a watchdog investigation earlier this year into Smith, alleging violations of the Hatch Act, though Smith’s legal team dismissed these claims as baseless.
Smith, who resigned from his special counsel position earlier this year ahead of Trump’s inauguration, has staunchly defended his actions in the 2020 election investigations.
He asserted, “The ultimate decision to bring charges against Mr. Trump was mine. It is a decision I stand behind fully.”
In a January letter, Smith further clarified, “To all who know me well, the claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable.”
