Jack Smith appointed special counsel for Trump investigations
On 18 November 2022 Attorney General Merrick Garland named veteran prosecutor Jack Smith special counsel for the inquiries into Donald Trump's handling of classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Garland cited Trump's newly announced presidential candidacy and President Joe Biden's expected 2024 run as reasons for the appointment.
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On 18 November 2022 Attorney General Merrick Garland named veteran prosecutor Jack Smith special counsel for the inquiries into Donald Trump's handling of classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Garland cited Trump's newly announced presidential candidacy and President Joe Biden's expected 2024 run as reasons for the appointment.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Jack Smith
PersonDirect responsibility
verified
Jack Smith appointed special counsel for Trump investigations. Actor role on this event; contribution size permanently_blocked (no sourced fraction). Contribution size is permanently_blocked (no sourced fraction); provisional 0.4 stored because contributions.size is NOT NULL.
What changed
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Evidence
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- 1.cnn.comchecked 2026-10-15 GET 200, keywords: smith+special counsel+garland · verified
- 2.fortune.comchecked 2026-10-15 GET 200, keywords: smith+special counsel+garland · verified
Causal path
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No causal path is recorded: this fact is not linked to a driver.
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Jack Smith appointed special counsel for Trump investigations. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/garland-appoints-jack-smith-special-counsel-2022-11-18
https://factrail.ai/facts/garland-appoints-jack-smith-special-counsel-2022-11-18
Accessed 15 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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