Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss the classified documents case against President-elect Donald Trump due to long-standing Justice Department policy that shields sitting presidents from criminal prosecution.
The big picture: Prosecutors in both Florida and Washington, D.C. requested to drop the case accusing Trump of plotting to overturn the 2020 election.
- The decision marks the conclusion of a legal threat that was once considered perilous for Trump and reflects the practical consequences of his victory.
- Special counsel Jack Smith had been evaluating how to wind down both the classified documents case and a separate prosecution charging Trump with plotting to overturn the election results.
- Legal opinions dating back decades state that sitting presidents cannot be indicted or prosecuted while in office, leading to the dismissal of the cases against Trump.
