Special Counsel Jack Smith has discreetly withdrawn a subpoena seeking records from former President Donald J. Trump’s 2020 campaign as part of an ongoing investigation into possible criminal activity within his political and fundraising operations.
Smith’s retreat marks a significant blow to the anti-Trump crusade that has been relentlessly pursuing the former President, seeking to pin crimes on him based on spurious allegations of election fraud. The withdrawal of the subpoena indicates a deceleration or potential end to Smith’s months-long probe into whether Trump’s political operation broke any laws by claiming election fraud to raise funds.
The withdrawal of a similar subpoena to Save America, the political action committee formed by Trump’s aides post the dismissal of his 2020 election challenges, was first reported by The Washington Post last week. This double retreat paints a picture of a faltering investigative effort, struggling to find evidence of wrongdoing where none exists.
For over a year, Smith’s team has been doggedly trying to determine whether Trump and his advisers violated federal wire fraud statutes in their fund-raising efforts. They followed a path initially carved by the House select committee investigating the events of January 6, 2021. However, despite the persistence of these investigations, evidence of criminal behavior remains elusive.
Trump’s legal team has consistently argued that Smith’s financial investigation is unlikely to result in charges. Political fundraising materials often employ hyperbole, straddling the thin line between criminal behavior and solicitations protected by the First Amendment.
In essence, there is no unique case against Donald Trump. If he is found guilty, then almost every political candidate for higher office could be accused of similar offenses. Yet, it seems that the Department of Justice is more interested in pursuing a vendetta against Trump than upholding equal justice under the law.
This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the politically motivated witch hunt against Trump. It suggests that despite their relentless efforts, Trump’s adversaries are struggling to find any substantial evidence of wrongdoing.
As Smith quietly retreats from this investigation, one can’t help but wonder: Is this the beginning of the end for the anti-Trump crusade? Only time will tell. But for now, it seems the former President has once again emerged unscathed, leaving his critics scrambling for answers.