The US office of special counsel, an independent federal agency, confirmed to NBC News on Saturday that it is investigating former Department of Justice prosecutor Jack Smith for possible violations of the Hatch Act.

Smith led investigations into Donald Trump’s part in January 6 US Capitol riot and alleged mishandling of classified documents.

The confirmation of an investigation comes after Arkansas senator Tom Cotton, a Republican, requested last week that Smith, 56, be investigated for “unprecedented interference in the 2024 election”.

The Hatch Act, ​​​​​​​a federal law passed in 1939, limits certain political activities of federal employees. Trump, along with other prominent Republican lawmakers, have argued that Smith’s investigations into Trump amounted