Former US President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that he received a letter on Sunday from Special Counsel Jack Smith, the Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney leading two criminal investigations into the former president, that indicated he was the subject of an investigation into attempted 2020 election interference and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Trump claimed that Smith’s letter requested that he appear before a federal grand jury this week, meaning that a formal criminal charge based on the investigation may be announced soon. As of the time of this article, neither the Department of Justice nor Smith has commented on the letter.
A sample of the type of letter sent to Trump, referred to as a “target letter,” from the DOJ’s website indicates that Trump was likely asked to appear before the grand jury and informed of the pending federal charges against him.
In a statement posted to Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed, “Jack Smith … sent a letter … stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury.” Trump also continued to refer to Smith’s criminal investigations into his conduct as “political weaponization,” maintaining his innocence.
Since US Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in November 2022 to oversee the two pending criminal investigations into Trump, there has been a slow and steady stream of news regarding Smith’s investigation into the 2020 election. In February, Smith subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence to give testimony and documents to investigators. Investigators have also subpoenaed election officials from Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—all states that Trump challenged 2020 election results in—as well as various Trump administration officials.
Smith’s investigation follows an extensive congressional one into the same matters led by the US House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack on the Capitol, which issued criminal referrals to the DOJ in December 2022. The committee’s final report issued four criminal referrals against Trump, including obstruction of official proceedings, conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to make a false statement and inciting, assisting or comforting an insurrection. Neither the DOJ nor Smith is required to comply with the committee’s referrals.
Trump recently pleaded not guilty in two separate criminal cases. In the first case, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of “falsifying business records in the first degree.” In the second case, led by Smith, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal counts in a Florida federal court based on his alleged wrongful retention and concealment of classified documents.
In his post Tuesday, Trump also expressed concern over a possible criminal case against him in Atlanta, Georgia, where Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis concluded her investigation into possible election interference in January. Earlier this month, Trump asked the Georgia Supreme Court to halt Willis’s investigation and quash a Georgia special grand jury’s report; however, the court denied Trump’s request on Monday. Willis has yet to announce any charges connected to the investigation. A new grand jury—seated this time with the power to indict Trump—began hearing the case last Tuesday.
