WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland raising conflict of interest concerns about Jack Smith, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recently-appointed special counsel.

Mr. Smith will oversee the ongoing criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump.  The senators highlighted Mr. Smith’s connections to individuals who were directly involved in the opening of investigations into former President Trump.

“Instead of appointing a special counsel devoid of overtly political connections and professional connections to the very individuals that were involved in opening the criminal matters that apparently he is now directly overseeing, you chose a special counsel that is wrapped-up into both,” the senators wrote.

The senators also noted how DOJ’s treatment of matters relating to former President Trump contrasts with the “kid-gloves” treatment the Department provided former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.  Further the senators emphasized how the Department still refuses to address conflicts of interest concerns involving another DOJ official, Nicholas McQuaid, and the Hunter Biden investigation.

“The Justice Department’s track record with respect to informing Congress and the public that it has prevented potential or actual conflicts from infecting investigations leaves much to be desired,” continued the senators. “If the Department opens an investigation, it must be done without regard to party, privilege or power.”

Read more about the letter in Fox News.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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