Washington, D.C. – Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led two high-profile criminal investigations against President-elect Donald Trump, has officially resigned from the Department of Justice (DOJ),
According to court documents. His resignation took effect on Friday, January 10, 2025, following the conclusion of his investigative duties.
In documents filed Saturday in Florida, DOJ officials stated, “The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10.”
Smith oversaw two criminal cases against Trump: one concerning alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and another involving the mishandling of classified documents. Both cases were dismissed following Trump’s electoral victory in 2024. Neither case proceeded to trial, with Trump pleading not guilty to all charges and asserting that the prosecutions were politically motivated efforts to undermine his campaign.
Appeals Court Ruling on Investigative Report
Smith’s departure comes shortly after a U.S. appeals court declined to block the release of a DOJ investigative report into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has consistently denied these accusations, labelling them part of a broader “witch hunt.”
The report, if released, is expected to provide extensive details about the investigation into Trump’s actions following the 2020 election.
However, Attorney General Merrick Garland has decided to withhold portions of the report related to classified documents, citing ongoing legal proceedings involving Trump’s two former co-defendants.
Trump Responds to Smith’s Tenure
Throughout the investigation, Trump has been a vocal critic of Smith, frequently calling him “deranged” and vowing to dismiss him if given the opportunity.
In November, shortly before his election win, Trump said, “I would fire him within two seconds. He’ll be one of the first things addressed.”
While Trump has yet to comment directly on Smith’s resignation, he posted an image on Truth Social following the announcement.
The photo, taken at the 2024 Republican National Convention, featured the slogan, “Make America Great Once Again.”
Smith’s resignation marks the end of a politically charged chapter for the DOJ as the nation prepares for Trump’s return to the White House.
The full release of Smith’s final report remains a key point of contention, with implications for the public’s understanding of the investigations.
As the legal and political fallout continues, all eyes remain on how the next administration will address these controversial cases.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led two historic prosecutions against President-elect Donald Trump, has resigned from the Department of Justice, according to court documents.
His resignation became effective on Friday, January 10, 2025, marking the conclusion of his work as Special Counsel.
“The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10,” DOJ officials wrote in court papers filed Saturday in Florida.
Smith oversaw two criminal cases against Trump, one concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and another involving the mishandling of classified documents. Both cases were dismissed following Trump’s 2024 election victory, with neither proceeding to trial.
Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and characterized the investigations as politically motivated attempts to undermine his campaign.
Smith’s resignation follows a U.S. appeals court decision on Thursday declining to block the DOJ from releasing his investigative report into Trump’s alleged efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss.
Trump has consistently denied these allegations, referring to the investigations as part of a broader “witch hunt.” If made public, the report is expected to provide detailed findings from the 2020 election probe.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed Smith, opted not to release portions of the report related to classified documents, citing ongoing legal proceedings involving Trump’s two former co-defendants.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Smith throughout the investigations, calling him “deranged” and vowing to remove him if elected. Speaking in November, Trump said, “I would fire him within two seconds. He’ll be one of the first things addressed.”
The president-elect has not commented directly on Smith’s resignation but shared an image on Truth Social around the time of the announcement.
The photo, taken at the 2024 Republican National Convention, included the slogan, “Make America Great Once Again.”
Smith’s departure closes a significant chapter in the DOJ’s investigations into Trump as the political and legal ramifications of these cases continue to unfold.
The release of Smith’s report remains a central issue, with the potential to shed new light on one of the most contentious political episodes in recent history.