The special counsel dealing with Trump is issuing subpoenas to several states for their communications with the former president to overturn the election
- Special Counsel Jack Smith sent his first known subpoenas to Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin last week
- Part of overseeing criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump
- The subpoenas ask counties to shut off all communications between local officials and Trump and his aides in the run-up to the January 6 attack on the Capitol
The special counsel in charge of overseeing criminal investigations into Donald Trump last week subpoenaed officials in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin over any communications with the former president or his aides and allies.
Jack Smith is looking for records of communications from Dane County, Wisconsin, in his first known subpoenas in the Trump investigation; Maricopa County, Arizona; Wayne County, Michigan and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to the Washington Post.
Attorney General Merrick Garland last month appointed Smith as the special counsel responsible for the criminal investigation into Trump’s alleged misappropriation of classified documents he took to his Florida home after leaving office last year.
Special Counsel Jack Smith (pictured) sent his first known subpoenas to Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin to oversee criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump
The subpoenas show Smith is also stepping up the Justice Department’s investigation into the attack on the Capitol — consistent with the Jan. 6 special committee’s findings that Trump’s efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election led to the riots.
“I am pleased to be a part of this trial,” Milwaukee clerk George Christenson said as he acknowledged the subpoena Tuesday and provided a copy to the Post.
The subpoenas specifically identify Trump and some of his associates, agents and attorneys for his 2020 campaign and ask for communications between local officials and those individuals.
The states issuing the subpoenas – Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin – were all central to Trump’s failed efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election and remain in power after President Joe Biden was victorious.
Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell acknowledged receipt of a subpoena similar to that received by Christenson in Milwaukee.
“I am not aware of any important announcements that have not already been made public,” McDonell said.
A Maricopa County spokesman, Fields Moseley, said, “We have received a subpoena and will be honoring it.”
The subpoenas require state counties to halt all communications between local officials and Trump and his aides and allies in the run-up to the January 6 attack on the Capitol
The special counsel was appointed after months of disagreements over the investigation of Trump’s transfer of documents to his Mar-a-Lago home and efforts by the former president’s attorneys, who sought to have a say in the selection process.
Republicans immediately pounced on attempts to discredit Smith and question his ability to be impartial – particularly citing his wife’s career and political donations.
Smith’s wife, Katy Chevingy, was the producer of Michelle Obama’s 2020 documentary Becoming and donated $1,000 to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign.