Ex-Trump campaign official cooperating with Jack Smith in election interference probe: report

Special counsel Jack Smith has secured the cooperation of Mike Roman, a one-time campaign official for former President Donald Trump, as part of the investigation into the plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election, CNN reported Thursday.

"One of the sources said that the agreement, known as a proffer agreement, means that Roman may not have to appear before the grand jury but could instead speak to prosecutors in a more informal setting. Under such an agreement, prosecutors generally agree not to use those statements against them in future criminal proceedings," reported Zachary Cohen and Kaitlan Collins. "Roman, who received a grand jury subpoena months ago and had his phone seized, was involved in efforts to put forward slates of fake Trump electors following the 2020 election."

This comes amid reporting that Smith is focusing in on the plot to declare fake lists of electors in over half a dozen states, which would then be used as a pretext for throwing out election results and tipping the election to Trump. John Eastman, a far-right lawyer who drafted a memo purporting to explain how former Vice President Mike Pence could block electors as part of this scheme, is now facing potential disbarment.

"The House select committee that investigated January 6, 2021, interviewed Roman — a senior adviser to Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign and tasked with Election Day operations — as part of its inquiry," the report noted. "Speaking to House investigators, Roman invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination for the committee’s questions about his efforts after the election. However, he did answer some of the committee’s questions about his activities ahead of Election Day."

While all of this is taking place, Smith is preparing for trial after indicting Trump in a separate case, concerning the former president's stash of highly classified military secrets at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Another report today suggests that Smith is pursuing information in that case from Susie Wiles, a Republican operative who is running Trump's 2024 campaign, and who was shown a classified map by Trump.