Former US Special Prosecutor Smith: Trump's attempt to remain in office was "a deliberate violation of the law"

In 2022, the former special prosecutor of the US Department of Justice who was responsible for investigating two criminal cases involving US President Trump, Smith, claimed that Trump's attempt to remain in office constituted a crime. Trump, however, called Smith "mentally deranged".

According to reports from Reuters and the BBC, former special prosecutor of the US Department of Justice, Smith, testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday (January 22nd), recounting his criminal investigation into Trump.

Smith stated at the hearing that he has no political affiliation and his investigation revealed that Trump "engaged in criminal behavior".

Smith said that after Trump's defeat in the 2020 presidential election, "he sought ways to continue to hold power".

He said: "The lawsuit against President Trump is due to the evidence that shows he deliberately violated the laws he swore to uphold."

"If someone were to ask me today whether a former president should be prosecuted based on the same facts, I would, regardless of whether the former president was a Democrat or a Republican."

When asked about Trump's plan to grant a large-scale amnesty to those involved in the Capitol riot after he returns to the White House in January 2025, Smith said that those who attacked the Capitol police and were sentenced to prison are dangerous individuals, and some of them have committed crimes again after receiving the amnesty.

Smith believes that he will continue to be the target of Trump's Department of Justice, "because this is the president's order."

Smith said that Trump's remarks were intended to intimidate him. "I won't be intimidated. I think his words are also meant to serve as a warning to others, to let them know what will happen if they stand up."

During Smith's testimony, Trump, who had just returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, criticized Smith on Truth Social.

Trump called Smith a "mentally deranged person" and suggested that Attorney General Bondi should investigate Smith's actions.

In November 2022, Smith was appointed as the Special Prosecutor by then Attorney General Garland to investigate and prosecute cases related to Trump's alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and his improper handling of government confidential documents after leaving the White House. Trump faced prosecution in both cases, setting a precedent for former US presidents to face criminal trials.