As 2024 race begins, special counsel advances with focus on Trump lawyers

The probes are led by special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to insulate the work from political influence. “Given the approaching primary season, the special counsel is already racing against the political clock,” said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. Other Trump lawyers were quizzed about how Trump’s legal team handled a subpoena for the documents in the summer of 2022. Compelling appearances from some witnesses in the election-related probe, including Pence and Meadows, may prove to be a thornier endeavor for the special counsel, legal experts said. “Ultimately, the special counsel and his team will make charging decisions based on the facts and the law.”