Key Takeaways:
– Donald Trump vowed to fire Special Counsel Jack Smith immediately if he regains the presidency.
– Trump referred to Smith, leading investigations against him, as a “crooked person.”
– Previously, Trump unsuccessfully attempted to terminate the Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III during his presidency.
– Smith is currently appealing the dismissal of one case against Trump and another case has been delayed.
– Trump’s remarks about terminating Smith could lead to possible impeachment scenarios.
Donald Trump, the former president, on Thursday expressly stated that he would remove Special Counsel Jack Smith from office immediately played his triumphant comeback to the White House. He hints at Smith’s dismissal in stark terms, stating, “it’s so easy, I would fire him within two seconds,” he said emphatically.
Trump Expresses Disdain Towards Smith
Trump, never one to hold back his opinions, regularly shares his negative views about Smith. During his interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, he labeled Smith, who’s leading multiple investigations against him, a “crooked person.” This is not the first time Trump has voiced his intentions of dismissing Smith. He alluded to this matter even before it became a topic of widespread public debate.
Trump’s dismissal of Smith isn’t guaranteed to be a smooth process, due to Smith not being a presidential appointee. If Trump wishes to carry it out, he will need to direct the Justice Department to take the necessary action. This is not new terrain for Trump. He once encouraged his then-White House counsel, Donald McGahn, to maneuver the Justice Department to terminate Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III. However, McGahn respectfully rejected Trump’s instructions.
Trump Battles with Legal Issues
Smith, so far, has hit Trump with two federal lawsuits. One case accuses Trump of unlawfully keeping classified documents within his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. However, a judge dismissed this case in July due to insufficient evidence, a decision that Smith is currently appealing. The second case, charging Trump with felonies due to his alleged attempts to reverse his 2020 electoral loss, remains in a status of limbo after a Supreme Court opinion conferred vast immunity for executive acts performed by a president.
Following his declaration of Smith’s imminent dismissal, Hewitt brought up the chance of Congress impeaching Trump over such a move. Trump dismissed the likelihood, stating, “I don’t think they’ll impeach me if I fire Jack Smith.”
Controversy Used as a Campaign Weapon
Meanwhile, Democratic contender Kamala Harris is capitalizing on Trump’s controversy. Her campaign team launched an advertisement which highlighted Smith’s investigation findings against Trump. Featuring clips from the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, alongside headline stories brought forth by Smith’s investigation, Harris’ ad effectively painted Trump in an unfavorable light.
While Trump pointed his critique at Smith, he offered praises to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who he appointed and who dismissed the classified documents case. Trump, faced with Smith’s indictments and awaiting sentencing for a felony conviction in a New York hush money payment case, lauded Judge Cannon calling her “a brave, brilliant judge in Florida.”
Regardless of the outcome of these ongoing investigations and Trump’s potential return to office, it’s clear that controversy will continue to surround the former president. His latest statement will likely add fuel to an already fiery political landscape.