Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent a letter to the Justice Department (DOJ), urging the preservation of all records related to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Donald Trump. The letter, which was obtained by ABC News, emphasizes the need to safeguard records concerning Smith’s probes into Trump’s alleged interference with the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents. This request comes as Trump has vowed to end all ongoing investigations into his actions once he assumes office again in January 2025. The letter, signed by all Democratic members of the committee, urges immediate action to preserve documents in light of Trump’s stated intentions.
The letter highlights Trump’s plan to shut down investigations into his alleged misconduct and involvement in election subversion efforts, as well as his handling of classified materials after leaving the White House. Democrats argue that the DOJ must act swiftly to ensure the integrity of the records, anticipating future legal requests for access to them.
Smith, who has concluded his investigation into Trump’s election interference and classified document mishandling, resigned from his position as special counsel after submitting his final report to Attorney General Merrick Garland. While the DOJ has been involved in a legal battle over the release of Smith’s final report, a recent court decision allowed the DOJ to release Volume One of the report related to the election interference case, while holding off on a ruling regarding Volume Two on the classified documents case.
Democrats also raised concerns about the confirmation of Pam Bondi as the new attorney general, a position Trump has nominated her for. Bondi, a staunch ally of Trump, has expressed intentions to target those involved in investigating Trump, raising alarms among Democrats about potential retaliation against DOJ officials.
The letter reinforces the DOJ’s obligation to preserve both physical and electronic records as the transition of power nears.
