Donald Trump declared Thursday that he would dismiss special counsel Jack Smith “within two seconds” of taking office if he wins the 2024 election. During an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump was asked whether he would prioritize pardoning himself or removing Smith, who currently oversees investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
“It’s so easy. I would fire him within two seconds,” Trump said. “He’ll be one of the first things addressed.” Trump has consistently criticized Smith, calling him “a crooked person” and vowing to cut ties if he regains the presidency.
Legal Boundaries of Firing Special Counsel Smith
If elected, Trump could potentially direct the Justice Department to remove Smith, although direct termination might prove complicated since Smith is not a presidential appointee. This situation echoes Trump’s 2017 handling of the Mueller investigation, where he urged then-White House counsel Don McGahn to push for Robert Mueller’s dismissal—a request McGahn ultimately refused.
Smith has brought two high-profile cases against Trump. One, centered on the alleged retention of classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, was dismissed in July by Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee. Smith is appealing this decision. The second case, involving accusations of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, has been delayed after a Supreme Court ruling expanded immunity for official actions taken during Trump’s presidency.
Could Congress Impeach Trump Over Smith’s Firing?
When Hewitt raised the possibility of Congress impeaching Trump for firing Smith, Trump dismissed the notion. “I don’t think they’ll impeach me if I fire Jack Smith,” he said, labeling Smith a “scoundrel.”
Harris Campaign Leverages Smith Investigations in New Ads
Kamala Harris’s campaign has seized on details from Smith’s investigations, using them in a recent ad to cast doubt on Trump’s candidacy. The ad highlights the January 6 Capitol attack, alongside headlines from Smith’s investigation, with the message, “He knew what he was doing.”
Trump Praises Judge Cannon’s Dismissal of Classified Documents Case
While sharply criticizing Smith, Trump praised Judge Aileen Cannon, the U.S. District Judge who dismissed the classified documents case against him in July. “We had a brave, brilliant judge in Florida,” Trump said. “She’s a brilliant judge, by the way. I don’t know her. I never spoke to her. Never spoke to her. But we had a brave and very brilliant judge.”
