It’s over.
Jack Smith, the special counsel tasked with investigating incoming president Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, has officially resigned from his position at the Department of Justice. His departure, effective January 10, 2025, follows the completion of his work earlier in the week. A court filing submitted on Saturday confirmed the resignation and noted that Smith’s final confidential report was submitted on January 7.
Smith’s exit was anticipated as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second inauguration. The confidential report, which addresses Trump’s alleged election interference, is set to be released soon and has already ignited intense legal and political discussions.
Throughout the investigation, Trump has openly criticized Smith, frequently expressing his intent to dismiss him. During the 2024 campaign, Trump vowed to remove Smith immediately if elected, and his criticisms of the special counsel continued unabated, wrote NBC News.
As the release of the report nears, Trump’s legal team and supporters remain critical of its findings. A spokesperson for Trump has not yet commented on Smith’s resignation or the pending publication of the report.
Smith’s resignation signals the conclusion of his work as special counsel, but the controversies surrounding his investigations and the ongoing legal challenges faced by Trump and his associates ensure that the implications of his tenure will persist.
The former president was indicted in the classified documents case as well, though Cannon dismissed the case in July 2024, deciding that Smith was unlawfully appointed and funded. Trump had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to the Justice Department’s filing, the special counsel’s work has concluded, and the report’s release is currently delayed by a temporary restriction. The government has asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to lift this restriction, allowing the public to access the findings.
Throughout the investigation, Trump has maintained his innocence and claimed that Biden had launched “lawfare” against him in an effort to cling to power.
“I defeated deranged Jack Smith, he’s a deranged individual,” Trump told reporters in Florida this week. “We did nothing wrong. We did nothing wrong on anything.
Smith has been mentioned as someone who may receive a “preemptive pardon” from Joe Biden despite not being charged with a crime.
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