Former President Donald Trump responded to Friday’s big news that the Justice Department was handing over its criminal investigations into him to a special counsel to avoid potential political bias by claiming that the DOJ was being “weaponized” against him.
Attorney General Merrick Garland named Jack Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor, as special counsel overseeing the Department’s criminal investigation into Trump’s handling of U.S. government records after leaving office and his actions related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
“The Department of Justice has long recognized that in certain, extraordinary cases, it is in the public interest to appoint a special prosecutor to independently manage an investigation and prosecution,” Garland said in a Friday press briefing. “Based on recent developments, including the former president’s announcement that he is a candidate for president in the next election and the sitting president’s intention to be a candidate as well, I have concluded that it is in the public’s interest to appoint a special counsel.”
Trump first responded in an interview with Fox News, claiming that he was “not going to partake” in the investigation.
Trump demanded that the Republican Party “stand up and fight” amid the announcement of a special counsel.
“It is unfair to the country, to the Republican Party, and I don’t think people should accept it,” he said. “I am not going to accept it.”
The 76-year-old later addressed the matter during an event Friday night at Mar-a-Lago, claiming that he thought that the investigations into him were winding down and saying that he believes the administration had “weaponized” the DOJ against him.
The active investigation about the classified materials that were discovered in his private residence when the FBI raided his home back in August was paused 60 days prior to the midterm elections due to DOJ policy about trying to not interfere in elections.
Trump then turned his attention to President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who is also under criminal investigation by the DOJ.
“Where’s their special prosecutor, by the way?” Trump asked. “Where’s their special prosecutor? They said, when I announced they had to do this. Well, he announced too, he said he wants to run, where’s their special prosecutor?”
The U.S. attorney overseeing the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden is David C. Weiss, a holdover from the Trump administration.
“Why isn’t there a special counsel being set up for them?” Trump continued. “Tremendous corruption, they’re corrupt people, they’re criminals. I’ve done nothing wrong. They participated in massive criminal activity with many other nations.”
Trump then suggested that the special counsel was appointed because House Republicans announced that they would be investigating the Biden family.
“And it’s not a fair situation what’s going on and I guarantee you they get a fair investigation, this will not be a fair investigation,” Trump continued. “But again, I thought this was all done or very close to being done. These people are corrupt, and yet they go after innocent people under the guise of legitimacy.”