The Office of the Special Counsel has launched an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who investigated President Trump before he returned to office, for alleged illegal political activity.

An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who brought two criminal cases against then-candidate Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year.

President Trump and his allies have — without offering evidence — accused Smith of violating the Hatch Act, a federal law that bans certain public officials from engaging in political activity.