{"id":2287562,"date":"2024-07-01T19:55:55","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T23:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-thomas-wants-to-know-if-jack-smith-is-constitutionally-appointed-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-07-01T19:58:43","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T23:58:43","slug":"justice-thomas-wants-to-know-if-jack-smith-is-constitutionally-appointed-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-thomas-wants-to-know-if-jack-smith-is-constitutionally-appointed-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Justice Thomas wants to know if Jack Smith is constitutionally appointed &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjustice-thomas-wants-to-know-if-jack-smith-is-constitutionally-appointed-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2287562&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Justice Clarence \u2064Thomas raised questions about the constitutionality of Jack Smith&#8217;s appointment as \u2064special counsel to prosecute the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fani-willis-admits-having-romantic-relationship-with-special-prosecutor-nathan-wade\/\" title=\"Fani Willis confesses romantic involvement with Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade\">2020\u200c election interference case<\/a> against \u2063former\u200d President Donald Trump. In a Supreme Court decision favoring Trump&#8217;s immunity claim, Thomas queried\u2063 whether Smith was legally appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Trump&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-judge-clears-courtroom-to-allow-rittenhouse-jury-to-review-grosskreutz-video-evidence\/\" title=\"WATCH: Judge Clears Courtroom to Allow Rittenhouse Jury to Review Grosskreutz Video Evidence\">defense lawyers argued<\/a> that Smith&#8217;s appointment violated the Constitution as\u2062 he was not confirmed by the Senate. Thomas\u200d emphasized the need to resolve the constitutionality of Smith&#8217;s appointment and urged lower courts to address the issue before the\u200b prosecution \u2064proceeds. Former attorneys \u200dgeneral also highlighted the importance of the Appointments \u2062Clause in this case.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">\n<div class=\"tdb-search-form-inner\"><input class=\"tdb-head-search-form-input\" placeholder=\" \" type=\"text\" value name=\"s\" autocomplete=\"off\" \/><button class=\"wpb_button wpb_btn-inverse btn tdb-head-search-form-btn\" title=\"Search\" type=\"submit\"><span>Search<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Justice Thomas wants to know if Jack Smith is constitutionally appointed<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> <a class=\"tdb-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/kaelan-deese\/\">Kaelan Deese<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2024-07-01T17:37:30-04:00\">July 1, 2024 5:37 pm<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1692504\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Clarence Thomas<\/a> on Monday raised bold questions about the constitutionality of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3065816\/what-happens-next-jack-smiths-diminished-jan-6-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Jack Smith<\/a>\u2018s appointment as special counsel to prosecute the 2020 election interference case against former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a>, a question closely tied to a pending dispute in his Florida case.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in favor of Trump\u2019s bid to claim immunity for \u201cofficial acts\u201d in a case stemming from Smith\u2019s four-count indictment against the former president related to his conduct around the time of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. In an opinion concurring with Chief Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-roberts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>John Roberts<\/a>\u2018s majority decision, Thomas queried whether Smith was legally appointed by Attorney General <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/merrick-garland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Merrick Garland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE \u2013 Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses for a photo at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thomas, who was nominated by President George H.W. Bush 33 years ago this week, wrote that Smith was not a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney, which could undermine Smith\u2019s prosecutions, including in the Mar-a-Lago case over classified documents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if the Special Counsel has a valid office, questions remain as to whether the Attorney General filled that office in compliance with the Appointments Clause,\u201d Thomas wrote. \u201cFor example, it must be determined whether the Special Counsel is a principal or inferior officer. If the former, his appointment is invalid because the Special Counsel was not nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, as principal officers must be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u2019s defense lawyers have argued that Smith\u2019s appointment violated the Constitution because Smith was a \u201cprivate citizen\u201d and not confirmed by the Senate. This argument is supported by pro-Trump amici curiae in Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-asks-supreme-court-to-reject-trump-request-in-fbi-classified-documents-case\/\" title=\"DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Reject Trump Request in FBI Classified Documents Case\">classified documents case<\/a> in Florida, where U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3053691\/trump-attorneys-jack-smith-unlawfully-made-special-counsel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>considering<\/a> whether Smith was lawfully appointed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Special counsel Jack Smith (left), Judge Aileen Cannon (center), and former President Donald Trump (right). (Associated Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In early June, the amici led in part by former attorneys general under George W. Bush\u2019s and Ronald Reagan\u2019s administrations highlighted the issue that Thomas raised in his concurrence on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>The amici pointed out that the 1974 Supreme Court decision known as \u201c<em>U.S. v. Nixon<\/em> briefly mentioned that the Attorney General had appointed a special prosecutor in that case, and the Court did not indicate disapproval of that method of appointment,\u201d according to the amici, which includes former attorneys general Michael Mukasey and Edwin Meese III.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSuffice it to say that, today, the Supreme Court takes the Appointments Clause far more seriously than it did in 1974,\u201d the amici added. <\/p>\n<p>In his concurrence, Thomas also questioned whether Smith\u2019s role as an \u201cinferior\u201d or \u201cprincipal\u201d officer was constitutionally valid and urged lower courts to address this issue before the prosecution proceeds. Thomas emphasized the importance of resolving the constitutionality of Smith\u2019s appointment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNone of the statutes cited by the Attorney General appears to create an office for the Special Counsel, and especially not with the clarity typical of past statutes used for that purpose,\u201d Thomas said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCongress gave the Attorney General the power to appoint \u2018additional officers \u2026 as he deems necessary\u2019 \u2014 but, only for the Bureau of Prisons,\u201d Thomas added, a suggestion that perhaps Congress may need to designate specific authority to create offices for special counsels.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thomas\u2019s concurrence adds significant weight to the debate over Smith\u2019s appointment, potentially affecting the prosecutor\u2019s future. It signals to Cannon that at least one justice on the high court would be willing to entertain the dilemma concerning the constitutionality of Smith\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p>Cannon has yet to rule on Trump\u2019s challenge to Smith\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1692504\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1692504\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Tags<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\/\">Clarence Thomas<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jack-smith\/\">Jack Smith<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\">Justice Department<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington D.C.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Justice Clarence Thomas is questioning the legality of Jack Smith&#8217;s appointment as special counsel in the case against former President Donald Trump. Thomas raised concerns about whether Smith was constitutionally appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, as he was not a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney. This issue could impact Smith&#8217;s prosecutions, including in the case involving classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Trump&#8217;s defense lawyers argue that Smith&#8217;s appointment violated the Constitution because he was not confirmed by the Senate. Thomas&#8217;s concurrence adds weight to the debate over Smith&#8217;s appointment and suggests that the constitutionality of his office needs to be resolved before the prosecution can proceed. This issue is currently being considered by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2287563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/jacksmithclarencethomas.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33592,32463,33519,32076],"class_list":["post-2287562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-constitutionally-appointed","tag-jack-smith","tag-justice-thomas","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/jacksmithclarencethomas.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2287562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2287562"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2287562\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2287563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2287562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2287562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2287562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}