Special counsel investigates Trump's praise of election security in crucial meeting

Special counsel Jack Smith is investigating a February 2020 Oval Office meeting where then-President Donald Trump praised the security of US elections, including the use of paper ballots and security audits. This contrasts with Trump's later public spread of voter-fraud conspiracy theories. Investigators are interested in understanding Trump's mindset about election security before he questioned the 2020 election results and whether he retaliated against officials who contradicted his narrative. Testimony from the meeting could provide insight into Trump's thinking and potentially undermine his defense. The special counsel is seeking testimony from various witnesses to understand Trump's knowledge and intent regarding election security.