Trump Slams Special Counsel Jack Smith Following Resignation
President-elect Donald Trump has unleashed a scathing critique of special counsel Jack Smith, branding him a “disgrace” after Smith announced his resignation from the Department of Justice (DOJ). This resignation was detailed in a recent court filing, marking the conclusion of an intense two-year tenure that has drawn significant public attention and scrutiny.
Smith’s Departure from the DOJ
The resignation of Special Counsel Jack Smith was officially confirmed in a court document released on Saturday. The filing specified that, “The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10.” This timeline has raised eyebrows, especially with the incoming presidency of Trump following a competitive election.
Trump’s Response on Social Media
In a response filled with characteristic fervor, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to lambaste Smith and his probe into the president-elect. Trump alleged that Smith had squandered substantial resources on what he termed a “Witch Hunt” against him, declaring that the investigation had cost over 0 million without yielding any results. “Deranged Jack Smith was fired today by the DOJ. He is a disgrace to himself, his family, and his Country. After spending over 0,000,000 on the Witch Hunt against TRUMP, he left town empty handed!” Trump posted.
Background on the Special Counsel’s Role
Jack Smith was appointed as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022. His primary responsibilities included investigating Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and his handling of classified documents. Prior to this, Smith served as acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee during Trump’s first term in office in 2017.
Upcoming Report and Legal Proceedings
Smith’s resignation comes just ahead of a scheduled report release concerning his investigation into the Capitol incident. Recently, court filings have hinted that Garland is planning to make this report public soon, with expectations that it may be issued before Trump’s inauguration next week. In a letter addressed to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md), Garland expressed, “As I have made clear regarding every Special Counsel who has served since I took office, I am committed to making as much of the Special Counsel’s report public as possible, consistent with legal requirements and Department policy.”
Judicial Decisions on Report Release
A recent ruling from a federal appeals court determined that there would be no barriers to the release of Smith’s report. This decision has intensified attention on the ongoing legal proceedings as Trump, now the president-elect, maneuvers the aftermath of Smith’s investigations.
Closing of Smith’s Investigations
In light of Trump’s electoral victory, Smith took notable steps to conclude his legal actions against the president-elect. In late November, Smith filed motions seeking to dismiss charges related to Trump’s alleged involvement in the Capitol riot. Prior to this, he motioned to vacate deadlines in a separate case concerning election interference, signaling a shift in the special counsel’s approach following the election outcome.
Trump’s Reflection on the Cases
With the motion to drop the investigations, Trump reflected on the nature of the cases, declaring that they “should never have been brought.” He elaborated in a Truth Social post, “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. 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!”
Conclusion
The resignation of Jack Smith marks a significant chapter in the ongoing saga involving Donald Trump and the investigations that have intertwined with his presidency. As the political landscape shifts once more with Trump’s return to power, the implications of Smith’s investigations and the forthcoming report will undoubtedly be hot topics of discussion in the coming weeks and months.
Fox News’ Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
