Peter W. Smith (February 23, 1936 – May 14, 2017) was an American investment banker and longtime Republican political operative and businessman. Over a 40-year career in finance, he managed corporate acquisitions and venture investments, founding his own firm, PWS Group, based in Chicago. He was a prominent figure in Republican fundraising and activism, supporting various anti-Democratic initiatives and conservative causes. In 1998, Smith was revealed as a major financial backer of the 1993 Troopergate scandal, where Arkansas state troopers accused then-President Bill Clinton of extramarital affairs during his time as governor, contributing significantly to the story's promotion through conservative media.

Smith's most notable and controversial activity came during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where he was involved in efforts to obtain Hillary Clinton's emails, leading a self-described 'private intelligence group' aimed at recovering what he believed were over 33,000 deleted emails from Clinton's private server. According to emails and documents released after his death, Smith contacted Russian hackers, WikiLeaks, and claimed ties to Michael Flynn and Trump campaign associates like Kellyanne Conway, though the campaign denied involvement. He pursued these emails through international channels, including approaches to entities linked to Guccifer 2.0, drawing scrutiny amid investigations into Russian election interference.

On May 14, 2017, Smith died by suicide at age 81 in a Minneapolis hotel room, ruled as such by authorities with no evidence of foul play. He left behind notes citing health issues, including recent cancer diagnoses and worsening conditions. His death and the subsequent release of his emails by The Wall Street Journal shed light on the shadowy intersections of private political operations, finance, and foreign influence in U.S. elections, highlighting Smith's role in networks seeking to undermine Democratic candidates.