In a bombshell announcement, former President Donald Trump spoke last week of receiving a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith explaining that he is the target of a special grand jury investigating January 6.

According to NBC News, Smith's office has questioned former White House aide William Russell about Trump's state of mind following the 2020 election.

Russell functioned as Trump's "body man"

Prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith’s office question former White House aide William Russell about then-President Trump’s state of mind during and after the 2020 election period, a source familiar with the matter tells @NBCNews. https://t.co/8EMPpCnvym

— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 21, 2023

NBC News cited "a source familiar with his work" as saying that Russell "would often informally engage in conversations with Trump" and those around him, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

A former campaign figure was quoted as saying that Russell would function as "a body man" who "hands out Sharpies" and "takes a photo for the president on someone’s cell phone."

That revelation came on the heels of another report from NBC News describing how Smith's letter references three federal statutes.

Tom Fitton calls Smith "a dire threat to the rule of law"

Special counsel Jack Smith's letter to former President Trump informing him that he is a target of a federal investigation mentions three federal statutes related to: the deprivation of rights, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., and tampering with a witness. https://t.co/RyOvdKGJzr

— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 19, 2023

"Two attorneys with direct knowledge" of Smith's letter explained that it mentions laws relating to deprivation of rights, conspiracy to defraud the United States government, and tampering with a witness.

News of Smith's letter to Trump sparked outrage among many conservatives, including Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton.

He complained of having been "harassed for hours by the Jack Smith grand jury" and described it as being "a dire threat to the rule of law."

I was harassed for hours by the Jack Smith grand jury as his anti-Trump prosecutors argued with me about challenges to the 2020 election, including whether or not I watched Trump's election night speech. Having witnessed firsthand their abuse of power, no surprise these partisans…

— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) July 18, 2023

Fitton was not alone in voicing condemnation, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy accused Smith of doing the White House's dirty work.

"President Trump just increased his lead in the polls. So what does the Biden Administration do next? Weaponize government to go after President Biden’s number one opponent," McCarthy tweeted.

President Trump just increased his lead in the polls. So what does the Biden Administration do next? Weaponize government to go after President Biden’s number one opponent.

This is not equal justice. It’s wrong, and the American public is tired of it. pic.twitter.com/H53qEyOvrO

— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) July 18, 2023