Unexpected Allies in a Legal Storm

Jack Smith, the man at the center of it all

• In 2020, Jack Smith—then chief prosecutor at a Hague special court—charged former Kosovar leader Hashim Thaci with war crimes from the 1998–1999 Kosovo War.
• The indictment leaked just before Thaci was scheduled to meet President Donald Trump, stalling talks aimed at easing Kosovo‑Serbia tensions.

Fast forward to 2024

• Trump, no longer in office, is under arrest and investigation for alleged mishandling of documents and January 6 events.
• Smith himself faces scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department and Congress over his past prosecutions of Thaci—and now, Trump.

Albanian politics get personal

• Prime Minister Edi Rama, during a recent White House meeting, pressed Trump to intervene in Thaci’s case.
• Rama called the Hague proceedings a “masquerade of international justice” and, in a rare display of camaraderie, slapped Trump’s arm and shoulder.

The stakes

• Thaci’s trial ended last week; a guilty verdict could mean up to 45 years in prison.
• The drama illustrates how legal battles can forge unlikely alliances, with leaders seeking support from former adversaries in pursuit of justice—or power.