Trump’s Special Counsel Steps Down “`

Jack Smith oversaw two federal investigations alleging the president-elect’s improper handling of classified materials and interference in election outcomes.

Court filings on Saturday revealed that US Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the two federal prosecutions against President-elect Donald Trump, resigned after submitting his final report. A motion was filed urging District Judge Aileen Cannon to lift her temporary injunction preventing the release of a portion of Smith’s report related to the classified documents case against Trump. Smith’s departure from the Department of Justice was briefly noted in a footnote: “The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10,”

Judge Cannon oversees the classified documents case against Trump. Her injunction on releasing Smith’s report remains in effect until Monday.

Court documents released Wednesday indicated Attorney General Merrick Garland intends to publicly release the portion of Smith’s report detailing his findings on Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 US election results.

Smith headed two of the four criminal cases filed against Trump following his first presidency. Cannon dismissed the first case in July 2024, while DC District Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed the second in November 2024, citing a sitting president’s legal immunity. Neither case proceeded to trial.

Smith’s resignation comes just ten days before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The incoming president previously stated he would dismiss Smith “within two seconds” of taking office.

The president-elect has repeatedly declared the charges against him baseless and “lawless.”

On Friday, Trump was sentenced in the New York ‘hush money’ case. Although he avoided fines or imprisonment, the ruling classifies Trump as a convicted felon under US law.