Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department after submitting his investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump, leading to speculations about the contents of the report and its potential impact.
Smith’s resignation, just 10 days before Trump’s inauguration, marks the conclusion of two unsuccessful criminal prosecutions against Trump, which were withdrawn after his victory in the 2020 election.
The big picture: The investigative report prepared by Smith and his team comprises two volumes that delve into Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the election results and his handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
- The fate of the report is uncertain as a Trump-appointed judge has temporarily halted its release following a defense request, arguing that its disclosure could be unfairly prejudicial to the case’s co-defendants.
Go deeper: The legal battle regarding the report’s release has escalated, with the Justice Department filing an emergency motion to lift an injunction preventing any part of the report from being made public.
- Despite preliminary denials, the appeals court has maintained the injunction, allowing for the report’s findings to be released three days after the matter is resolved by the court.
