Trump rages over DOJ's special counsel appointment

Former President Donald Trump on Friday raged against the Department of Justice appointing a special counsel to oversee its investigations into his alleged misconduct.

"I have been going through this for six years — for six years I have been going through this, and I am not going to go through it anymore... And I hope the Republicans have the courage to fight this," Trump told Fox News. "I am not going to partake in it. I’m not going to partake in this."

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that special counsel Jack Smith would handle its exploration of Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents, as well as any obstruction of justice charges that may stem from the matter. Moreover, Smith will explore whether Trump or others illegally attempted to interfere in the transfer of president power or the electoral certification process.

Garland acknowledged that pursuing investigations against an active presidential candidate could open the DOJ up to accusations of politicization and that appointing the special counsel would be the prudent approach. Trump announced his 2024 campaign earlier this week.

"The Department of Justice has long recognized that in certain extraordinary cases it is in the public interest to appoint a special prosecutor to independently manage an investigation and prosecution," Garland said. "Based on recent developments, including the former president’s announcement that he is a candidate for president in the next election and the sitting president’s stated intention to be a candidate as well, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint a special counsel."

Trump found the timing of the announcement to be highly suspect, saying "I have never heard of such a thing. They found nothing. I announce and then they appoint a special prosecutor."

"They found nothing, and now they take some guy who hates Trump. This is a disgrace and only happening because I am leading in every poll in both parties... This is the worst politicization of justice in our country," he continued.

He further accused the DOJ of hypocrisy for ignoring alleged misconduct committed by the Biden family.

"Hunter Biden is a criminal many times over and nothing happens to him," Trump told the outlet. "Joe Biden is a criminal many times over — and nothing happens to them... It is unfair to the country, to the Republican Party, and I don’t think people should accept it. I am not going to accept it."