DOJ Names Special Counsel for Mar-a-Lago Case; Donald Trump Dubs Probe as 'Worst Politicization of Justice'

Justice Department's U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Friday that former federal prosecutor Jack Smith will be the special counsel for the Mar-a-Lago documents case, which is an investigation against former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Smith is seen to start immediately by looking at whether any person, including Trump, unlawfully interfered with the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election.

The former federal prosecutor will also look at the hundreds of Mar-a-Lago documents that were confiscated from the former president's Florida residence.

Garland said Smith "is the right choice" to complete the probe in an "even-handed" and "urgent matter."

The attorney general said in an announcement that they have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint a special counsel based on recent developments, particularly citing the former president's announcement for a presidential bid.

Garland said that he was "confident" that the appointment will not slow down the process of the investigations, adding that he will ensure that the special counsel gets the resources to "conduct this work quickly and completely."

Donald Trump on Justice Department's Special Counsel

Donald Trump slammed the Justice Department's appointment of a special counsel to take over investigations regarding the Mar-a-Lago documents and the January 6 Capitol riot.

The former president told Fox News that he will not "partake in it," describing the probe as "the worst politicization of justice in our country."

He also urged the Republican Party to take action on the matter.

Trump added that he has been going through it for six years and that he will not "go through it anymore." He went on to say that he hopes the Republicans "have the courage to fight this."

The former president then went on to slam U.S. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. He said that the president's son "is criminal many times over and nothing happens to him."

Trump also referred to the president as a "criminal."

The former president and his legal team have argued that the Mar-a-Lago documents had been declassified when Trump was in the White House while the Justice Department said that Trump unlawfully retained national defense information.

Special Counsel Jack Smith

Jack Smith was part of the U.S. Justice Department previously, serving as the chief public integrity of the department, as reported by The Guardian.

He also dealt in particular with cases about corruption and bringing cases against prominent Republicans and Democrats.

He was appointed first assistant U.S. attorney in 2015 for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Smith started his career as a prosecutor in New York City at the office of the Manhattan district attorney in the 1990s and later became a federal prosecutor in the city's Brooklyn borough.

The former federal prosecutor also previously worked at the International Criminal Court at The Hague in the Netherland, wherein he investigated and prosecuted war crimes.

The Justice Department said Smith did "sensitive investigations" of international government officials and militia members on charges such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: BREAKING: Garland Appoints Prosecutor Jack Smith As Special Counsel In Trump Probes - from NBC News