Special Counsel Jack Smith resigns following the unsuccessful federal prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump. The news of Smith’s departure emerged through a footnote in court documents, following previous indications he would do so before Trump’s January 20, 2025, inauguration.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in November 2022 to lead two major investigations into Trump. The cases – one involving the mishandling of classified documents and another involving efforts to overturn the 2020 election – were dismissed before trial.
The classified documents case was dismissed in July 2024 after pro-Trump U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional. Later, following Trump’s electoral victory in November 2024, Smith moved to dismiss the federal charges in the election interference case, citing the Department of Justice’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Following Smith’s exit, there’s concern about potential retaliation during Trump’s second term. Some Democrats call on President Biden to issue preemptive pardons for Smith and his team.
Three lawyers who opposed Smith during the Trump cases have been nominated for top positions in the incoming administration, including his Deputy Attorney General nominee, Todd Blanche.
Trump, celebrating his legal victory, dismissed Smith’s efforts, telling reporters in Florida, “I defeated deranged Jack Smith, he’s a deranged individual…We did nothing wrong. We did nothing wrong on anything.”
Before departing, Smith submitted a final two-volume confidential report on January 7, 2025, detailing his decision-making in both criminal cases. However, the report’s release faced opposition from Trump’s legal team, who described it as an “unlawful” political attack against the president-elect.
Smith’s final report is made public the following week, despite efforts by Trump’s attorneys to block its release.
