THE BREAKDOWN: In his first-ever television interview, former Special Counsel Jack Smith spoke exclusively with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace on Deadline: White House. Smith discussed the upcoming elections, urging state attorneys general to prepare for extensive legal challenges and calling for public support for election workers. He also touched upon the investigative methods used during his inquiry into former President Donald Trump and the events of January 6th.
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith broke his public silence in an exclusive television interview with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace on Deadline: White House, mapping out what he views as critical defenses for upcoming U.S. elections and reflecting on his recent federal investigations.
A Evolving Threat Landscape
When asked by Wallace whether he sees conduct ahead of the midterms that mirrors what he investigated regarding the January 6th Capitol riot, Smith noted that organizers have likely altered their strategies.
“Well, I’ve been thinking about it more in terms of what needs to be done based on what we saw happen last time,” Smith said. “And you know, it’s a different situation now based on, you know, the people who perpetrated January 6th that probably learned from how they did that.”
The Role of State Attorneys General
To counter potential interference, Smith pointed to state-level legal authorities as a primary line of defense. “My personal view is I think the state attorneys general have a tremendous role to play here,” Smith stated. “They can make sure the rule of law functions in their state.”
When Wallace pressed for specific advice for those state attorneys general, Smith emphasized exhaustive preparation for any scenario. “I would be ready to litigate everything,” Smith replied. “I would brainstorm, and I think they are. I get that sense. Every possible permutation and don’t let reason be a limitation. Imagine everything that could possibly be tried.”
Wallace interjected, “That Trump will do,” to which Smith answered, “Yes, and I also think it’s important for them to be proactive and initiate litigation where it’s appropriate and where it would make sense to. If you have a sense or reason to believe that something’s going to be done to interfere with people’s right to vote and participate in democracy.”
Protecting Election Officials
Beyond litigation, Smith emphasized that protecting local election staff is vital to maintaining democratic systems, pointing out their resilience during past challenges.
“I would also say that I think a thing that all of us can do is support election workers and election officials,” Smith said. “The last time around, we saw that those people stood firm and they were, in many cases, the difference. It’s clear to me, anyway, that what I’ve seen publicly, that those people are going to be put under great pressure, and my experience, not only just the special counsel, but you know, I was the chief of the public integrity section at the Department of Justice for five years, had a number of cases with election officials. These are people also; they’re not tooting their own horn. They’re not self-promoters. They just care about our democracy. We need to show them that we have their back. I think those two things are central to getting ready for the elections that are coming up.”
Inside the Trump Investigation
The conversation also turned to the mechanics of the high-profile investigation into Donald Trump. Wallace brought up the depth of evidence compiled in the case, including testimony regarding the president’s state of mind and acknowledgments of his 2020 election loss.
She asked Smith how much accountability relies on insider witnesses and whether Trump has learned how to better evade federal indictments.
Smith declined to frame the investigation as a unique political anomaly, maintaining that his team relied entirely on standard law enforcement procedures.
“Yes, I think the one thing to start on this sort of topic is we did this case the way I’ve done cases throughout my career,” Smith said. “Same investigative techniques, same use of the tools that a federal prosecutor has. And our proof was the same sort of proof you have in all sorts of cases, not just political corruption cases, but all sorts of cases I’ve done in my career.”
READ: Jack Smith’s Unseen Side: Ignatius Reveals What The Media Got Wrong About The Special Counsel
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