Special Counsel Jack Smith Resigns from Justice Department Amid Trump Investigations

Jack Smith's resignation follows the conclusion of two investigations into Trump, one involving classified documents and the other pertaining to alleged election interference. His departure occurs amid legal disputes regarding the release of findings from these cases and leaves Trump’s prosecutions without a trial.

 

Jack Smith, the special counsel responsible for leading two high-profile investigations into Donald Trump, has resigned from the Justice Department ahead of the president-elect’s inauguration later this month. A court filing submitted on Saturday confirmed that Smith “separated from the Department” on Friday.

Reports from CBS News, the BBC's US media partner, had hinted at Smith's impending resignation following the completion of his work in November. His exit from the Justice Department comes during ongoing disputes regarding the release of his findings from the classified documents investigation involving Trump.

Appointed in 2022, Smith oversaw two significant cases against the former president – one regarding the alleged mishandling of classified documents and the other focused on possible interference in the 2020 election. Both investigations resulted in criminal charges, which Trump has dismissed as politically motivated while pleading not guilty.

Following Trump's victory in the presidential election last year, prosecutors indicated that the cases would be closed, citing Justice Department regulations that prevent the prosecution of sitting presidents. Reports emerged in November suggesting Smith's resignation was strategic, allowing him to depart his role without facing dismissal from Trump or the new administration's attorney general.

Notably, Smith's resignation means that neither of his prosecutions against Trump proceeded to trial. Earlier this week, US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who controversially dismissed the classified documents case last July, issued a temporary order barring Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland from releasing or sharing the investigative report.

This decision followed a request from attorneys representing Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, both of whom have pleaded not guilty. They urged Judge Cannon to intervene after Trump’s legal team received a draft of the report.

At a federal level, special counsels are mandated to submit their findings to the Justice Department, overseen by the attorney general. Garland has committed to releasing all reports publicly, a policy he has maintained so far.

In related legal developments, a judge recently sentenced Trump in a separate hush-money payment case to an “unconditional discharge,” which allows him to avoid jail time or fines. However, this ruling leaves Trump as the first US president to assume office with a felony conviction.

As Trump's legal battles continue to unfold, the implications of Smith's departure and the undisclosed findings of his investigations will likely play a significant role in the political landscape leading into the 2024 election.