Former Special Counsel Jack Smith lashed out at the Office of Special Counsel for its investigation into his possible violations of the Hatch Act and illegal political activity.

Earlier this month it was reported that the Office of Special Counsel has launched an investigation into Jack Smith for possible violations of the Hatch Act and illegal political activity.

Jack Smith was appointed as Special Counsel in 2022 by Joe Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Trump just one day after Trump announced his 2024 bid for the White House.

The Office of Special Counsel opened the investigation after Senator Tom Cotton earlier sent a letter alleging Jack Smith’s actions politically harmed Trump during the 2024 election.

“A review of the record and procedural history demonstrates the opposite — Mr. Smith was fiercely committed to making prosecutorial decisions based solely on the evidence, he steadfastly followed applicable Department of Justice guidelines and the Principles of Federal Prosecution, and he did not let the pending election influence his investigative or prosecutorial decision-making,” Jack Smith’s attorneys wrote in a letter obtained by ABC News.

Excerpt from ABC News:

Attorneys representing former special counsel Jack Smith hit back Tuesday at reports of a recently announced watchdog investigation into his prosecutions of President Donald Trump, describing the reasoning for the probe as baseless and partisan.

“The predicate for this investigation is imaginary and unfounded,” said Covington and Burling attorneys Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski in their letter to acting Office of Special Counsel Jamieson Greer, which was obtained by ABC News.

The Office of Special Counsel — which is a separate watchdog agency from the special counsel position Smith held under the auspices of the Justice Department — confirmed late last month it was investigating Smith after receiving a referral from Republican Sen. Tom Cotton.

Tuesday’s letter notes that since Greer’s announcement of his office’s ethics investigation of Smith, he has not yet attempted to directly contact Smith for cooperation with the probe.

Smith’s attorneys also note the unusual nature of the investigation being led by OSC, which traditionally has no role in probing the actions of federal prosecutors.

“We are aware of no court decision, prior Office of Special Counsel finding, or other authority interpreting the Hatch Act to prohibit prosecutors from investigating allegations of criminal conduct committed by former public officials or candidates for public office, or prosecuting those cases when the facts and law so dictate,” the letter stated.

Jack Smith indicted Trump on 37 federal counts in Miami in June 2023 for lawfully storing presidential records at his Mar-a-Lago estate which was protected by Secret Service agents.

Trump was charged with 31 counts under the Espionage Act of willful retention of national defense information and 6 other process crimes stemming from his conversations with his lawyer.

Last summer Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Jack Smith’s classified documents case based on unlawful appointment and funding of the special counsel.

In a separate case in Washington DC, Jack Smith indicted Trump on four counts: Conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

Jack Smith’s DC case was dismissed after President Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

The post Jack Smith Lashes Out After Office of Special Counsel Launches Investigation Into His Illegal Political Activity appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Donald Trump has reportedly appointed Dan Scavino, his longest-serving advisor, as the new director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, as first reported by Axios.  Scavino has been with President Trump since the golden escalator ride in 2015.

The position was previously held by Sergio Gor, whom President Trump has nominated to be the next ambassador to India.

Scavino has been a well-respected advisor to the President Trump, beginning as Director of Social Media for the 2016 campaign.  But before that, he served as an assistant manager and rose to executive vice president at Trump’s National Golf Club Westchester from 2004 through 2015.

From 2017-2021, Scavino was the White House Director of Social Media and Senior Advisor for Digital Strategy from 2019-2021.  In the second administration, Scavino serves as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications.

Scavino is reportedly the only non-family member who has been in the Trump administration since its very beginning.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said:

“Dan Scavino is one of President Trump’s most trusted and longest serving advisors.  There is nobody better to ensure the president’s administration is staffed with the most qualified, competent, and America First-driven workers. There is much still to be done and Dan’s leadership will ensure the highest quality, most dedicated workforce ever.”

Regarding Gor and Scavino’s promotions, Politico reported:

Gor endeared himself to the president and his family for adopting a zero tolerance policy toward job-seekers who had been critical of Trump in the past, often scouring their social media posts and occasionally intervening to block hirings. But his aggressive approach also earned him detractors. Notably, former special adviser Elon Musk slammed Gor as “a snake,” accusing him of convincing Trump to pull the nomination of a Musk confidant to serve as the next NASA administrator.

Scavino is one of Trump’s closest advisors, dating back to the first administration, where he served in a variety of different communications roles. In the West Wing, Scavino occupies one of the closest offices to the Oval Office, serving as one of the most influential players in the MAGA movement.

JUST IN: DAN SCAVINO has been hired as Director of President Trump’s White House Presidential Personnel Office, meaning he will be in charge of many staffing decisions.

Great decision. pic.twitter.com/29QMcb3Yzx

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 26, 2025

BREAKING Trump will have Dan Scavino be in charge of all the White House hiring. I LOVE IT

HE IS THE PERFECT MAN FOR THE JOB pic.twitter.com/yx4gUk6dLA

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) August 26, 2025

BREAKING: President Trump has tapped DAN SCAVINO to be in charge of hiring at the White House

HELL yes!@DanScavino has been a loyal Trump operative since Trump came down the golden escalator in 2015.

Scavino will run the Presidential Personnel Office, and will be in… pic.twitter.com/I5av2q8wjg

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 26, 2025

https://archive.is/pITnw#selection-527.0-527.233

The post Longest-Serving Trump Advisor Dan Scavino Now in Charge of Hiring Decisions as Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The world’s biggest pop star is officially off the market.

On Tuesday, woke, far-left singer Taylor Swift announced on her Instagram page that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce popped the question, and she said yes.

Of course, Swift could not keep things simple and decided to get corny instead.

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” she wrote as she showed photos of Kelce down on one knee and her with an engagement ring.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

The news comes a few weeks after Swift announced her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl” on Kelce and his brother Jason’s “New Heights” podcast.

As The New York Post notes, Swift and Kelce were first linked back in 2023 when she attended her first Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium in September to support Kelce.

She has attended two Super Bowls involving the Chiefs. The first was Super Bowl 2024, when KC overcame the San Francisco 49ers in overtime 25-22 on a Patrick Mahomes touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr.

The second was this year when she got roundly booed as the Philadelphia Eagles destroyed the Chiefs 40-22.

The Post reported in December 2023 that Kelce previously asked Swift’s father, Scott Swift, for permission to marry his daughter.

Swift previously said during her Time’s 2023 Person of the Year interview that she and Kelce got together after he stated on his podcast that he wanted to meet her.

“So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other,” she said. “By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple.

“I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”

The post Woke Singer Taylor Swift Shares Corny Message Announcing Her Engagement to NFL Boyfriend Travis Kelce appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Before his meetings last week with Western leaders and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on the ongoing War in Ukraine, President Trump dropped a BOMB on TRUTH Social.

President Trump vowed to rid the country of mail-in voting, voting machines, and clean up elections.

Trump will sign an executive order to rid the country of mail-in voting and highly “inaccurate” voting machines.

From his Truth Social account:

President Trump: I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly “Inaccurate,” Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election.

We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting. All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED. WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections.

Remember, the States are merely an “agent” for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do.

With their HORRIBLE Radical Left policies, like Open Borders, Men Playing in Women’s Sports, Transgender and “WOKE” for everyone, and so much more, Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM.

ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS. I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS. THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!!

REMEMBER, WITHOUT FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, AND STRONG AND POWERFUL BORDERS, YOU DON’T HAVE EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF A COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!!! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Now, a new poll by Rasmussen Reports shows that Americans overwhelmingly agree with President Trump.

53% of Americans say in-person voting is more secure than mail-in voting.

Only 13% believe that mail-in voting is more secure than in-person voting.
Via Rasmussen Reports:
Election Integrity: 53% Say In-Person Voting Is More Secure Than Mail-in Ballots

One of President Donald Trump’s proposals to protect election integrity appears to have majority support.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that, in terms of making sure that election results are secure and counted accurately, voting in person at a polling place is better. Only 13% think using mail-in ballots is better, while 30% say it doesn’t make much difference whether people vote by mail or in person.

Last week, Trump said he would “lead a movement to get rid of” both mail-in voting and electronic voting machines, saying it would make election results more accurate and honest.

Forty-eight percent (48%) approve of his idea, including 32% who Strongly Approve. Forty-five percent (45%) disapprove, including 34% who Strongly Disapprove.

Here are the numbers.

The post POLL: 53% of Americans Say In-Person Voting More Secure than Mail-in Voting – ONLY 13% Say Mail-in Voting Is Better appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

In an effort to boost American ingenuity and put the United States back at the forefront of technology, First Lady Melania Trump has unveiled the nationwide Presidential AI Challenge, inviting students from kindergarten through 12th grade to harness artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems.

The first-of-its-kind competition brings together students, educators, and supervisors in teams to create AI-powered solutions for issues in their schools or communities.

The First Lady announced the challenge in a video on Tuesday, saying, “Are you ready for an AI challenge? Take part in this nationwide initiative to discover, develop, and expand AI’s potential.”

Melania emphasized America’s leadership, stating, “Just as America once led the world into the skies, we are poised to lead again, this time in the age of AI.”

“The Presidential AI Challenge seeks to inspire young people and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while fostering AI interest and competency. Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate and ignite a new spirit of innovation as we celebrate 250 years of independence and look forward to the next 250 years.”

“The Presidential AI Challenge will foster interest and expertise in AI technology in America’s youth. Early training in the responsible use of AI tools will demystify this technology and prepare America’s students to be confident participants in the AI-assisted workforce, propelling our Nation to new heights of scientific innovation and economic achievement,” the contest’s website states.

All participants receive a certificate, while national champions earn cash prizes, cloud credits, and the opportunity to showcase their work at the White House.

In May, the First Lady announced an AI-generated audiobook for her memoir “Melania,” which used a digital recreation of her own voice.

For full details about the contest and to get involved, check out the official Presidential AI Challenge website.

WATCH:

The post WATCH: First Lady Melania Trump Announces Groundbreaking Nationwide Presidential AI Challenge for K-12 Students appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.