Trump’s handpicked u.s. attorney embroiled in grand jury controversy

Wyoming’s legal landscape has just taken a decidedly unsettling turn. The appointment of Darin Smith, a United States Attorney selected by the President despite a shockingly thin resume, is already generating a storm of controversy.

A prosecutor without a past

Smith, a former state senator boosted by a Trump endorsement, is facing serious accusations of manipulating grand jury proceedings. Evidence suggests he actively steered prospective jurors towards a predetermined outcome, offering a disturbingly casual assessment of the cases he intended to present – labeling them ‘slam dunks’ and predicting swift indictments.

According to a juror’s affidavit, Smith’s comments were frankly alarming: he told potential grand jurors they’d hear cases involving ‘bad guys’ who ‘did what you are going to hear about,’ and later, encouraged direct contact after the presentation of evidence. The U.S. attorney’s office, bafflingly, has offered no challenge to these claims.

Extracurriculars and a disconcerting oversight

But the issues don't end with the grand jury. A subsequent review revealed Smith handing out business cards and actively soliciting contact information from grand jurors during breaks – a clear breach of protocol. This, coupled with his candid descriptions of the cases as ‘slam dunks,’ paints a picture of an individual utterly lacking in the necessary restraint and judgment for such a sensitive role. Frankly, I wouldn’t trust him to handle a night court case out of the drunk tank.

A senate confirmation amidst criticism

Despite mounting scrutiny and condemnation from Democrats and legal observers, Smith’s nomination was confirmed by both Wyoming senators on Monday. This raises a deeply troubling question: how can the Department of Justice continue to prioritize political loyalty over demonstrated competence? The fact that this appointment aligns with the state’s two-senator ratio – a bizarre and ultimately meaningless statistic – only underscores the alarming lack of oversight.

We’re just two election cycles away from a Republican nominating committee considering a January 6th insurrectionist for president. And all the best people will never not be funny.