President Donald Trump has demanded the prosecution of former special counsel Jack Smith and his associates following the indictment of Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, a former federal prosecutor tied to Smith’s classified documents investigation.
In a statement on Truth Social late Wednesday, Trump wrote: “Deranged Jack Smith and his ‘gang’ are really bad news. Can never be allowed to happen again,” he added, “They should all be prosecuted!”
The post, which included a link to a Just the News report, came after the Justice Department announced charges against Lineberger. She served as a former managing assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida and assisted in matters related to Smith’s Mar-a-Lago documents probe.
Federal prosecutors allege that Lineberger illegally transmitted confidential Department of Justice materials, including portions of Smith’s unreleased classified documents report, to her personal Gmail and Hotmail accounts while disguising the files as cake recipes.
According to the indictment, Lineberger renamed sensitive files “Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf” and “Chocolate_cake_recipe.pdf” in an alleged attempt to conceal the transfers.
Prosecutors stated that some of the documents included internal DOJ communications and sealed investigative material that Judge Aileen Cannon had ordered remain confidential.
Lineberger, 62, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in federal court in West Palm Beach. She faces charges including obstruction of justice, concealment of government records, and theft of government property. If convicted on all counts, she could face decades in prison.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the conduct in a statement posted on X: “This FBI will not hesitate to bring to account those who violated the trust of the American public in an investigation that should’ve never been brought to begin with,” he wrote.
The indictment intensifies scrutiny surrounding Smith’s controversial prosecution of Trump over classified records kept at Mar-a-Lago after his first term.
In 2024, Judge Cannon dismissed the case, ruling that Smith had been unlawfully appointed as special counsel. Smith later abandoned his appeal following Trump’s election victory.
The sealed volume of Smith’s final report — the same document allegedly emailed by Lineberger — has never been publicly released.
Trump’s attorneys have argued that its disclosure would violate constitutional protections and improperly expose grand jury material and privileged information.
The Department of Justice defended Judge Cannon’s order barring the report’s release outside the department’s channels.
Lineberger also drew attention in recent years for publicly supporting Biden administration diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and participating in implicit bias training programs through the National Black Prosecutors Association.
