Special Counsel Mueller ducked in the end…..
Smith will come under just as much, if not More, pressure from Trump & Co. and the Media….
For Mueller?
He had the Justice Dept. ‘policy ‘ on a sitting Presidewnt to escape …
Smith won’t….
He’ll just have history and the law…..
As new Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith takes over a series of criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump, he has one clear advantage: recent history.
In many ways, Smith is stepping into the shoes filled by former FBI Director Robert Mueller, named in May 2017 to examine allegations of ties between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia….
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But Smith has almost three decades of prosecutorial experience, as a lawyer for state and federal governments as well as two tours as an international war crimes prosecutor at the Hague.
Mueller’s lengthier record of government service proved to be a double-edged sword. He was 73 at the time of his special counsel appointment and 75 when his report was delivered.
Smith, 53, seems unlikely to face the kinds of criticism Mueller did about his best years being behind him and allegedly allowing his deputies to play outsized roles in decision-making. And his low profile may make him a harder target for Trump’s allies to undermine. He also has a long history of bringing corruption cases to trial and conviction, a credential that may have made him an attractive choice for Garland — and an ominous one for Trump….
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Smith’s greatest asset may be the one Mueller never had: a recent special counsel probe of Trump himself.
Mueller probed a newly inaugurated Trump who had the power of the presidency and Justice Department at his disposal, something Trump won’t have as a former president. In addition, Smith can learn from the obstacles Mueller faced, and the resistance Mueller encountered from a Republican-led Congress rallying around Trump to inform his tactics….
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Although there’s no explicit timeline for Smith to complete his work, Garland made clear he envisions an aggressive timeline. Both Garland and Smith vowed that the appointment of a special counsel would not “slow” the already well-developed investigations. And Smith said it was his job to ensure the investigations do not “pause” or “flag” on his watch….
Note….
Smith was involeved in the IRS ‘crackdown’ on Republican non-profits doing political work back in the day…..
Republicans are STILL beating on the IRS over that….
image…CNN