Donald Trump, the newly elected President of the United States, has warned that Jack Smith, the former chief prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, could return to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he would be able to “execute people” and pose a significant threat.
In a recent interview with NBC, Trump specifically addressed Smith, who was appointed a year ago to oversee criminal investigations into the former president. Trump described Smith as “crazy” and suggested that he was dangerous, even in The Hague.
“No such thing has ever happened in our country’s history. And I’ve won these cases. I’ve won all of them, and the rest are in the process of being won. The crazy Jack Smith is going back to The Hague where he could execute people. He should have stayed here. I think he’s dangerous even there,” Trump stated.
Trump recalled Smith’s previous legal challenges against him, adding that Smith might have even helped him win the presidential election in 2020 by ensuring his substantial vote count.
“Maybe he helped me, because I got the most votes, more votes than any Republican has ever gotten in history,” Trump remarked.
When asked if he would want Smith to be investigated, Trump responded, “Well, I think he’s very corrupt, but I want her to do whatever she wants,” referring to Pam Bondi, the woman he has nominated as Attorney General.
Pressed further about whether he would influence Bondi to pursue Smith, Trump responded, “She is a very smart person. She was a great Attorney General in Florida. She’s very experienced. I want her to do what she wants to do. I’m not going to direct her to do this, no.”
Jack Smith is the prosecutor who charged former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Former President Hashim Thaçi, former Parliament Speaker Kadri Veseli, former Deputy Speaker Jakup Krasniqi, and former MP Rexhep Selimi are still held in detention by the Special Court in The Hague as a result of these charges. Several former KLA commanders and soldiers face similar accusations, with some already having been sentenced.
