Special Counsel Jack Smith officially resigned from the Justice Department on Friday after concluding two criminal investigations into President-elect Donald Trump. His resignation, which came just 10 days before Trump’s inauguration, follows the dismissal of charges against Trump, including those related to the retention of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Smith’s departure was noted in a court filing that also urged US District Judge Aileen Cannon not to extend a temporary block on releasing his final report.
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The Justice Department seeks to release parts of Smith’s report before Trump assumes office, particularly concerning his attempts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election. The report, which reportedly spans over 200 pages, has significant implications for Trump’s political future, as Smith’s investigations have cost taxpayers $50 million.
DOJ officials have expressed concerns about the possibility of the report being released under a Trump-led department were it to be delayed until after his inauguration on January 20.
Smith’s investigations did not reach trial, and he cited policies prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president as a reason for dropping the cases after Trump’s election victory.
Attorney General Merrick Garland intends to release the election interference findings, while the document related to classified materials will remain confidential due to ongoing legal proceedings against Trump’s co-defendants.
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