Jack Smith has officially resigned from the Justice Department, stepping down from his role overseeing two significant federal investigations into former President Donald Trump. A court filing revealed that Mr. Smith "separated from the Department" on Friday, just ahead of Trump taking office as president-elect later this month. It was anticipated that Smith would resign after completing his work, as reported by CBS News in November.
Jack Smith Resigns from Justice Department Amid Trump Investigations
Jack Smith Resigns from Justice Department Amid Trump Investigations
Special counsel's departure signals end to Trump-related criminal cases as tensions rise in political landscape.
Smith, who was appointed special counsel in 2022, was tasked with overseeing cases dealing with allegations of improper handling of classified documents and attempts to interfere with the 2020 election results. These investigations led to criminal charges against Trump, who pleaded not guilty and portrayed the prosecutions as politically motivated. However, both cases were effectively closed last year following Trump's victory in the presidential elections due to regulations prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president.
His resignation allows for a clean break without being dismissed by Trump or the incoming administration's attorney general. Nonetheless, it leaves both of his cases unresolved without trial. Recently, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon temporarily halted the release of Smith’s findings relating to Trump's classified documents case, following requests from Trump's co-defendants to intervene. This pause on the report's release follows legal objections from Trump's legal team, arguing that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional and politically biased.
In another key development, Trump received an "unconditional discharge" earlier this week in a separate criminal case linked to hush-money payments, allowing him to avoid jail time or fines. Nonetheless, this outcome means he will enter office while being the first U.S. president to have a felony conviction, creating further implications for his future legal battles and the political climate heading into the new presidential term.
His resignation allows for a clean break without being dismissed by Trump or the incoming administration's attorney general. Nonetheless, it leaves both of his cases unresolved without trial. Recently, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon temporarily halted the release of Smith’s findings relating to Trump's classified documents case, following requests from Trump's co-defendants to intervene. This pause on the report's release follows legal objections from Trump's legal team, arguing that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional and politically biased.
In another key development, Trump received an "unconditional discharge" earlier this week in a separate criminal case linked to hush-money payments, allowing him to avoid jail time or fines. Nonetheless, this outcome means he will enter office while being the first U.S. president to have a felony conviction, creating further implications for his future legal battles and the political climate heading into the new presidential term.
