Jack Smith is a seasoned prosecutor who has managed a number of high-profile cases over the course of a career spanning decades.
He was appointed as the special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday
To oversee the criminal investigations into the retention of classified documents at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and portions of the January 6, 2021 uprising.
Smith's experience includes bringing cases against gang members who were ultimately found guilty of killing New York City police officers as well as prosecuting a US senator who was still in office.
Smith has recently brought war crimes cases to The Hague
He has been able to maintain a reasonably modest profile in the frequently brassy legal sector because to his career in numerous departments of the Justice Department and in international courts.
He will be able to avoid the kind of political backlash that former special counsel Robert Mueller's team encountered right away thanks to his expertise and background, at least initially
It also demonstrates his skill at handling complicated criminal cases involving public corruption and national security, as well as his experience making difficult choices that have political repercussions.
Smith is anticipated to be given the responsibility of deciding whether to bring charges against a former US president.
The latest actions in the Mar-a-Lago and January 6 investigations, along with Garland's comments on Friday, have indicated that Donald Trump is, at the very least, the subject of an investigation and may ultimately be charged with a crime.