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Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to oversee the Justice Department’s investigations into former President Trump just days after Trump announced that he'll run again in 2024.

Garland said Jack Smith, a longtime prosecutor and current war crimes investigator, would take the helm of two investigations, one into the mishandling of sensitive government records found at Mar-a-Lago, as well as aspects of the DOJ's investigation into Jan. 6., 2021 covering “whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power.”

Garland directly pointed to Trump’s announcement and a potential rematch election with President Biden as among the “extraordinary circumstances” that justify such an appointment of an independent counsel.

“Based on recent developments, including the former president’s announcement that he is a candidate for president in the next election and the sitting president’s stated intention to be a candidate as well, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint a special counsel,” Garland said. “Such an appointment underscores the department’s commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters.”

Read more here on the announcement here.

Also from The Hill:

• Who is special counsel Jack Smith?
• What is a special counsel?
• Trump explodes at DOJ appointment: ‘I am not going to partake in it’

Welcome to The Hill's Evening Report, catching you up on news from the afternoon and looking at the big stories likely to impact tomorrow.

The Biden administration has urged the Supreme Court to clear one of the legal obstacles blocking its student debt relief program as part of the administration’s broader legal effort to have the policy reinstated.

The majority of Republican National Committee voting members have signed on to a letter endorsing current RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for another term despite retiring Rep. Lee Zeldin’s (R-N.Y.) recent statement that he is mulling a challenge.

The Washington Post's publisher blasted President Biden over a decision by the U.S. to grant immunity to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a lawsuit over the 2018 killing of Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Democrat Adam Frisch has conceded to Rep. Lauren Boebert (R) in the race for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, saying that an expected recount was unlikely to change the outcome of the election. 

Tweets that spread hate speech will be “deboosted & demonetized,” but will still be available on the platform if sought out, Twitter CEO Elon Musk says. 

Taylor Swift is weighing in on the Ticketmaster meltdown surrounding her forthcoming tour, saying that it “pisses [her] off” that many of her fans “feel like they went through several bear attacks” to get their hands on tickets.

The Buffalo region of New York is bracing for its first major winter snowstorm this season, expected to bring up to four feet of snow in the coming days. 

Capitol Hill is getting in the holiday spirit, with the arrival of the Capitol Christmas tree.

Beer will not be permitted at World Cup stadiums in Qatar, the tournament’s organizer has announced.

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"Now, Team Trump can spew its misinformation on Meta platforms with no fear of having its content labeled or demoted," writes Paul M. Barrett of the Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University.

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