US officials open investigation into former special counsel Jack Smith

US federal officials say they have opened an investigation into former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two federal criminal cases against President Donald Trump before resigning from his post earlier this year.

The Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) confirmed to the BBC that an investigation into Mr Smith is underway, but declined to add further details.

Mr Smith was appointed as special counsel in 2022 to investigate Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and his alleged attempt to interfere in the 2020 election.

The OSC does not have authority to lay criminal charges against Mr Smith, but it can initiate disciplinary action or refer its findings to the Department of Justice.

US media reported on Saturday that the OSC is investigating Mr Smith for alleged violations of the Hatch Act, a law that prohibits political activities by government officials.

It comes after Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas, called on the OSC to investigate Mr Smith for "unprecedented interference in the 2024 election."

Mr Smith was tapped by former Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to oversee federal investigations into Trump.

Both of the cases he investigated led to criminal charges being laid against the president, who pleaded not guilty and sought to cast the prosecutions as politically motivated.

The cases were later closed following Trump's presidential election win in November 2024, as Justice Department regulations forbid the prosecution of a sitting president.