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Ben Ginsberg, who for decades was the go-to election law expert for national Republicans, says, "This feels a little bit like an own goal. The administration has cut back on the cyber security agency, CISA, and the Department of Justice outfit that helps states so that, if there is a problem with the 2026 election, it will be in large part because the defenses that are provided by the federal government to the states to stop that activity have been drastically cut back."

JUST. FUCKING. WOW. The humility, decency, and integrity of Jack Smith came across loud and clear. This career prosecutor is an American hero. Jack Smith is the antithesis of the depravity, corruption, and moral bankruptcy of Trump, Todd Blanche, the DOJ, and Kash Patel. Here is a synopsis of Jack Smith's first televised news interview since he criminally charged the most corrupt president in American history, Donald Trump. Core Pillars of the Interview ㆍ The Fragility of the Rule of Law: Smith warned that the rule of law is under an unprecedented attack, declaring it is "different in kind and scope to anything I've seen in my lifetime." He explained that democratic systems do not run on autopilot and rely entirely on the good-faith commitment of people inside public institutions to uphold them. ㆍ Consistency Over Politics: He reiterated that a healthy democracy requires investigating cases by focusing strictly on the facts and the law, applying the exact same standards regardless of political affiliation. ㆍ Defending Career Public Servants: Smith spoke passionately about the career prosecutors, FBI agents, and support staff who are being "demonized for doing their jobs" by political figures. He expressed that he feels "terrible" about how they are being treated. ㆍ The Call to Support Them: He emphasized the moral necessity for regular citizens to stand up for these civil servants, stating, "It's really important that we stand up for them and let them know that there are a lot of people out there who back them and who are with them." ㆍ The Danger of Lost Trust: Smith noted that the loss of institutional trust has a dangerous "cascading effect" on the legal system, warning that when judges and the public lose faith in prosecutors, the Justice Department loses its ability to perform basic functions. Warnings About Upcoming Elections ㆍ Deeply Concerned for the Future: When asked directly if the country is witnessing a real-time assault on the upcoming election cycle, Smith explicitly stated, "I'm very concerned of what's going to happen in the next election, absolutely." ㆍ Bad Actors Have Adapted: He warned that individuals who attempted to subvert the 2020 election have likely learned from past failures, adapting their strategies to be more effective next time. ㆍ State Attorneys General Must Step Up: Smith emphasized that the federal apparatus cannot be the sole line of defense, noting that state attorneys general now have a massive responsibility to enforce the rule of law within their own state borders to protect voting integrity. Anticipating Personal Retaliation & Indictment ㆍ Expecting Retaliation: Wallace asked Smith point-blank if he expects to be criminally indicted by the current Trump administration. ㆍ A Distinct Possibility: Smith acknowledged that an indictment "could happen," given the administration's vocal hostility toward him and the likely use of the Justice Department to target him directly. ㆍ Refusing to Back Down: Despite the threat of prosecution, he declared, "I am not going to be intimidated. We did our work, pursuant to department policy... I'm not going to pretend that didn't happen because they are threatening me." How Legal Experts & Media Analysts Reacted ㆍ An Extraordinary and Historic Moment: Commentators and legal analysts noted that a public media tour by a former Special Counsel defending the DOJ's integrity against a sitting president is entirely unprecedented in modern political history. ㆍ Nostalgia for Institutional Norms: Media figures reacted strongly to the broadcast, expressing a sense of nostalgia for a time when the Department of Justice operated under strict, non-partisan legal norms. Smith was praised as a rare, authoritative voice willing to publicly champion rank-and-file civil servants. ㆍ Composure Under Extreme Pressure: Legal observers highlighted Smith’s calm, professional, and articulate demeanor during the broadcast. Analysts noted that his refusal to get defensive or angry stands as a model for how public officials should handle intense political weaponization.