A Republican member of Congress, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), proposed defunding Special Counsel Jack Smith’s federal investigation into former President Donald Trump after Trump revealed he received a “target letter” in the inquiry related to the 2020 election. Gaetz announced his intention to introduce legislation to halt the funding for the investigation, which he referred to as a “witch hunt” against Trump.
In a video shared on Twitter, Gaetz emphasized the urgency of stopping what he perceived as election interference and attacking democracy. He said the legislation would be introduced as a standalone bill, bypassing the appropriations process to address the issue promptly.
This type of legislation may gain support in the GOP-led House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) expressed concerns about unequal justice and the use of government as a tool against political opponents, especially considering Trump’s potential candidacy for the White House.
However, the bill faces significant challenges in the Democrat-controlled Senate, and opposition is expected from the White House. Gaetz acknowledged this in his video, recognizing that passing such legislation into law would be difficult under the current political landscape. Despite this, he urged his fellow members of Congress to co-sponsor the legislation to show their stance on the matter.
The Department of Justice recently disclosed that over $9 million in taxpayer money was spent on Smith’s investigation from November to March, surpassing the expenditures on other special counsel inquiries. Smith is leading investigations into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents after leaving office. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the handling of sensitive documents and has hinted at the possibility of further indictments and arrests.
Trump has also faced charges tied to an alleged “hush money” scheme in Manhattan and may face additional charges in a 2020 election inquiry in Fulton County, Georgia. He continues to deny any wrongdoing and insists he is the target of a “witch hunt.”