Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to oversee investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, has officially stepped down from his role at the Department of Justice. His resignation, confirmed in a court filing on Saturday, marks the end of a contentious tenure that saw him lead two high-profile investigations into Trump’s actions surrounding the 2020 election and the handling of classified documents. Smith’s work culminated in significant legal battles and the submission of a controversial final report.
Smith separated from the Justice Department on January 10, according to court documents. This development comes as legal teams representing Trump and his co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, continue to challenge the release of Smith’s final report, which spans two volumes and contains detailed findings from his investigations. The Justice Department has defended Smith’s decisions and emphasized the importance of transparency, but a federal court order currently prevents the report’s release.
Smith’s investigation into Trump began with two major focuses: Trump’s conduct following the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified materials after leaving office. Both investigations led to criminal charges against Trump, who pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. However, the cases were closed following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, as federal regulations prohibit the prosecution of a sitting president.
The controversy surrounding Smith’s report is emblematic of the broader political and legal tensions surrounding Trump. Defense attorneys argue that releasing the report could prejudice ongoing cases involving Nauta and de Oliveira, who were charged alongside Trump. Judge Aileen Cannon, who previously dismissed one of Smith’s cases against Trump, issued a temporary order barring the release of the report, citing concerns over its potential impact on legal proceedings.
The Justice Department, however, has pushed back against these claims, asserting that the report’s findings are critical to public accountability. Attorney General Garland has pledged to release the report once all legal disputes are resolved. The report’s first volume focuses on the 2020 election investigation, while the second addresses Trump’s handling of classified documents. For now, the Justice Department has agreed to withhold the latter until related cases are fully closed, planning to make it available to select members of Congress for oversight purposes.
Smith’s investigations faced scrutiny from the outset. Critics accused him of partisanship, while his supporters praised his commitment to upholding the rule of law. During the course of the investigations, Smith faced allegations of providing preferential treatment to Trump, claims he and the Justice Department have vehemently denied. IRS agents involved in the investigations raised concerns about procedural inconsistencies, but Smith defended his actions, emphasizing that all decisions were made based on the law and evidence.
In the final report submitted to Garland on January 7, Smith pushed back against President Biden’s criticism of the investigations, which the president had previously described as politically motivated. Smith wrote that such statements undermined public trust in the justice system and misrepresented the facts of the case. He maintained that the charges brought against Trump were based on thorough evidence and legal principles, not political influence.
The fallout from Smith’s investigations and the disputes over his report reflect the polarized political climate in which these events have unfolded. While his resignation marks the end of his direct involvement, the impact of his work continues to shape public and legal discourse. The pending court decisions regarding the report’s release will likely have far-reaching implications for the Justice Department, the Trump administration, and the public’s understanding of accountability and transparency in governance.
As the legal battles play out, Smith’s tenure serves as a reminder of the challenges and controversies that accompany high-stakes investigations involving political figures. For now, the nation awaits the resolution of this complex and deeply divisive chapter in American legal and political history.