Special Counsel Jack Smith Resigns from the Department of Justice
Published on January 11, 2025
Resignation Announcement
Special counsel Jack Smith has officially resigned from his position at the Department of Justice, as confirmed by sources at Fox News. This expected resignation follows the election of President-elect Donald Trump in November, which signaled a significant shift in the political landscape.
The announcement of his resignation was made discreetly, appearing in a footnote of a court filing on Saturday. The footnote read: “The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10.”
Background on Jack Smith’s Tenure
Jack Smith was appointed as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022. His mandate included overseeing investigations related to the 2020 election interference case involving former President Trump, particularly in connection with the events of January 6 and the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
Previously, in 2017, Smith served as the acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee during the early days of Trump’s presidency, which gave him firsthand experience in handling significant legal matters during a contentious political period.
The Anticipation of Smith’s Report
The news of Smith’s resignation comes at a pivotal moment as the nation awaits the release of his investigative report regarding election interference. Recent filings indicate that Attorney General Garland intends to make the report public soon, potentially before January 20, when Trump is set to assume office.
In a notable development, a federal appeals court judge ruled against a motion to block the release of Smith’s report, reinforcing the commitment to transparency in the investigation. Garland has expressed his intention to publish as much of the Special Counsel’s report as is feasible, while adhering to legal requirements and departmental policy.
Impact of Trump’s 2024 Victory
Following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Jack Smith took steps to conclude ongoing cases against the president-elect. In late November, he filed motions to dismiss the charges leveled against Trump in relation to the D.C. case, a move that was widely anticipated after Trump’s electoral success.
Before formally seeking to drop the D.C. case, Smith had requested to vacate all deadlines associated with the election interference investigation. This decision was met with a mixed response, reflecting the broader complexities and controversies of legal actions against a former president.
Trump’s Reaction to the Resignation and Case Dismissals
In response to the dismissal of the cases, Trump has been vocal on social media, asserting that the investigations were unfounded. “These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “It was a political hijacking and a low point in the history of our country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump’s statements highlight his ongoing belief that the investigations were politically motivated, a narrative that resonates with his base and complicates the discourse surrounding Smith’s investigations and the broader implications of election-related inquiries.
