Merrick Garland defends special counsel's independence in Trump case

Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the Justice Department's classified-documents investigation of former President Donald Trump, stating that he had faith in the "integrity" of the probe and would let the indictment and future court filings speak for the Justice Department. Trump faces 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information, along with three counts of withholding or concealing documents in a federal investigation, false statements and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Garland appointed Jack Smith as the special counsel in charge of the investigation in November 2023.