In a public statement on Friday, former President Donald Trump advocated for a special prosecutor to delve into the investigation of the 2020 presidential election, in which Democrat Joe Biden emerged victorious. Trump reiterated his unsubstantiated allegations, claiming the election was plagued by widespread fraud.
He voiced his sentiment through a social media post, stating, “Biden was grossly incompetent, and the 2020 election was a total FRAUD!” Trump emphasized his point by contrasting his immigration policies with those of Biden, adding, “The evidence is MASSIVE and OVERWHELMING. A Special Prosecutor must be appointed. This cannot be allowed to happen again in the United States of America! Let the work begin!”
This call comes amidst significant foreign policy discussions within the Republican administration, particularly regarding potential involvement in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Trump’s remarks are part of a broader effort to question the legitimacy of Biden’s presidency. Earlier in the month, Trump instructed his administration to scrutinize Biden’s presidential actions, alleging his cognitive decline was concealed by aides. Biden dismissed the investigation as a diversionary tactic.
Reviving a well-known grievance, Trump maintains the stance that the election was stolen, despite numerous court rulings and opinions from his own former attorney general indicating no fraud that could impact the election results. The Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity division confirmed that the election was in fact “the most secure in American history.”
While Trump’s intentions surrounding the special prosecutor remain unclear, should Attorney General Pam Bondi consider his request, there may be pressure to select someone previously confirmed by the Senate. A spokesperson for the Justice Department refrained from making comments on the matter.
The Justice Department has a history of appointing special counsels to investigate politically sensitive issues, with past cases involving actions by both Biden and Trump. Last year, Trump’s legal team challenged the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel to investigate Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his alleged retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence. The challenge was successful; a judge appointed by Trump determined that Merrick Garland, then Attorney General, had overstepped by appointing Smith without the necessary Senate approval.
Trump’s legal team in this victory included Todd Blanche, now Deputy Attorney General, and Emil Bove, Blanche’s top deputy, who was recently nominated to the federal appeals court as a judge.