Smith was a Justice Department lawyer out of central casting, a clean-cut prosecutor from upstate New York who played well in front of juries. Smith appears as prepared for the task as anyone could be, those who know him say: He has been prosecuting criminal cases, including politically charged corruption investigations involving public officials, for nearly 30 years.Īt the start of his career, Mr. Trump, thrusting him into a political firestorm that will doubtlessly accompany the job. Smith to a role that is almost certain to test his fortitude like few others: As special counsel, he will oversee a pair of criminal investigations involving former President Donald J. “But if I were the sort of person who could be cowed - ‘I know we should bring this case, I know the person did it, but we could lose, and that will look bad’ - I would find another line of work.” “I understand why the question is asked,” Mr. When Jack Smith was appointed to lead the Justice Department’s public integrity unit in 2010, he recommended closing a series of high-profile investigations into members of Congress without charges - attracting criticism that the division had lost its nerve.
