jack smith a veteran prosecutor will oversee as a special counsel the ongoing justice department probes related to former president donald trump attorney general merrick garland said friday smith’s remit includes doj investigations into classified documents at trump’s maralago estate in florida as well as parts of a separate investigation involving the jan 6 insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election as the associated press reported earlier the attorney general’s move comes three days after trump launched his 2024 candidacy for president “based on recent developments including the former president’s announcement that he’s a candidate for president in the next election” garland said “i have concluded that it’s in the public interest to appoint a special counsel as the wall street journal noted garland’s move reflects the sensitivity of his overseeing an investigation into trump who is now a declared white house candidate president joe biden who has said he intends to run for reelection nominated garland to lead the doj in part for the former judge’s promise to insulate the agency from political influence the journal noted