A group of Republican lawmakers want Jack Smith to hand over a pile of documents linked to his two criminal cases against Donald Trump — whom he accuses of storing classified documents across Mar-a-Lago and trying to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power — over “grave constitutional concerns.”
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Eric Burlison (R-MO) and Michael Cloud (R-TX) scribbled off Thursday an angry missive directed at the special counsel, whose authority to prosecute Trump they question.
“Neither the American people nor Congress have any insight into whether your actions have been subject to any oversight, congressional or otherwise,” the four write.
“Recent actions by your Office exacerbate our concern regarding the sufficiency of oversight of your investigation and prosecution of President Trump.”
Those actions are linked to arguments made in the D.C. Circuit court tasked with ruling on Trump’s presidential immunity claim in his election interference case.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, contends his actions leading up to the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, are protected by the position he once held.
Smith argues attempting to overturn a presidential election isn’t protected by the presidential office.
The lawmakers take umbrage with a Smith filing urging the D.C. court to make a timely decision, citing both public interest and the importance of the trial to proceed quickly.
“The criminal justice system is not a vehicle to inform the electorate and any such interest does not overcome the Judiciary's interest in ascertaining whether a case is, in fact, justiciable,” they chastise Smith.
“Indeed, as you are no doubt aware, Department regulations caution against taking action that could impermissibly interfere with an election.”
The four Republicans give Smith until Feb. 9 to respond to their demand for documents linked to two empaneled grand juries and communications with the Justice Department concerning his decision to indict Trump.
It’s worth noting they’ve given Smith a timeline before, which he does not seem to have taken too seriously.
“You don’t get to jam the legal system with your ulterior political motives,” Luna said in December. “You have until Friday.”
Thursday’s letter was issued about seven weeks after the above deadline passed.
“My colleagues and I have grave constitutional concerns about the appointment of Jack Smith,” Luna wrote on X Thursday afternoon. “That is why I am demanding answers from him.”
She received a mixed bag of responses. While some followers applauded her willingness to take Smith to task, others had questions.
“Do you have any questions for tRump (sic), Jordan, MTG, or any of the other t--heads who helped him with Jan 6?” @Bocephus1313 wanted to know.
“Do you also have grave constitutional concerns about the scores of AMERICAN jurors - plucked from the very fabric of our society - who found probable cause to indict the former President (Trump)?” asked Eric Beerman. “How is expulsion from Congress not too lenient for the treachery you've engaged?"
“And yet you aren’t concerned about Trump or another 4 year term if elected?” asked @Greggoldpropguy. “Are you kidding me?”