Despite Jordan’s persistent interrogation, Garland stood by his decision, expressing no regrets about appointing Smith. He asserted that he was unaware of the specific concerns raised by Jordan before the appointment and dismissed the accusation of evidence tampering as a mischaracterization.

Smith’s appointment as special counsel by Attorney General Garland marked a significant juncture in the ongoing investigations implicating former President Donald Trump. Prior to assuming this role, Smith had a distinguished career as a war crimes prosecutor at The Hague and as a leader in the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice. His extensive background was particularly pertinent given the intricate nature and high stakes of the investigations he was tasked with—namely, one involving potential mishandling of classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and another connected to the events surrounding January 6th.