Former President Trump's first day in court for a hearing to determine the lawfulness of Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment in the classified document investigation concluded Friday without a decision being made. Friday's hearing inside a courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, ended around 2:30 p.m. after the court heard arguments from the defense and prosecution as well as constitutional lawyers supporting either side's analysis. Prior to concluding for the day, U.S.
The arguments were centered on whether the law authorizes the Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel, such as Smith. The discussions during the hearing were policy-heavy, as each side sought to prove what is truly meant by the law and what authority is ultimately bestowed on Garland and Smith.
Pearce also told Cannon that while Smith’s team is operating independently on a day-to-day basis, DOJ regulations allow the AG to ask for an explanation of any step taken by the special counsel.