WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that he has appointed a special counsel, veteran prosecutor Jack Smith, to oversee the criminal investigations into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and former President Donald Trump’s role in illicitly taking classified documents to his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:

“I respect the decision to appoint a special counsel and have confidence in the integrity and professionalism of Mr. Smith to conduct a fair, independent, and thorough inquiry.  These investigations must follow the facts and proceed free from any political interference.  The American people deserve a full accounting and justice must be served.”