Special Counsel Jack Smith is on the case
From the first time we heard that he was coming into the DOJ cases, we knew that Jack Smith would be taking no prisoners. He’s also wasting no time. The Washington Post (and others) reported that Smith has issued a subpoena to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger among others. Smith wants to talk to election officials who received calls or other communications from Donald Trump about his attempts to overturn the election in the states he lost, including Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. WaPo reported that Nevada declined to comment on whether they have received anything from the DOJ. Raffensperger has already testified in Georgia’s grand jury investigation into whether Trump broke election laws in Georgia with his call to “find” votes for him in Georgia.
Smith has not subpoenaed the individuals but, instead, has subpoenaed records, though he obviously could ask these people to testify about their records. In his November 22, 2022 letter to the Milwaukee County Clerk Custodian of Records, he does say: “In lieu of personally appearing before the Grand Jury on the date indicated, you may comply with this grand jury subpoena by producing the requested records and documents to:” a special agent of the FBI. Accordingly, if they comply, they need not appear-yet. Washington Post reported that these are the first subpoenas issued by Smith, and everyone is staying mum about details, but the subpoena speaks for itself. It goes quite in depth about the records the special counsel is seeking. It is detailed, including naming names, and is specific as to the records it seeks: communications from or involving Donald Trump and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. It is clear that Smith is going for the proverbial jugular, which also means he is serious about this investigation. Requests such as this reveal the serious nature of Smith’s investigation and further show that he is indeed looking at criminal behavior by Trump. The deadline for production was Friday, December 9, 2022, so we may well hear more on this in the very near future.
As for Donald Trump, he has got to know that his days are numbered. If he doesn’t, he’s dumber than we thought. It is clear where Smith’s requests are leading him. He is looking at the fundraisers, the organizers, and the bullshit talking. All of that helped to rile up the thugs who vandalized the Capitol. Words have power; everyone knows that. Remember, it is not okay to yell “fire” in a crowded theater, and it was not okay to get these people riled up to the point that they felt the need to resort to violence. That is never okay, and those who did it should be punished.
The Trump criminal saga is far from over. Smith is reaching out to virtually everyone who had anything to do with subverting democracy, as he should. Trump and his allies were out of touch and out of bounds. It is past time to rein them in.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years