In a dramatic legal shift, special counsel Jack Smith filed to dismiss federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump in both the January 6 and classified documents cases. The DOJ’s filing Monday cited constitutional protections for sitting presidents, effectively ending these prosecutions ahead of Trump’s inauguration.
Smith’s motion described the Department’s conclusion that continuing these cases would violate the Constitution’s prohibition on prosecuting a sitting president. The DOJ emphasized that this applies regardless of the nature of the charges or the evidence involved.
The decision comes amid delays in state-level cases against Trump. In New York, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s falsified business records case has been placed on indefinite hold. Similarly, Fulton County’s election-related case has seen canceled hearings, further clearing Trump’s legal slate.
Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, celebrated the DOJ’s actions, calling them “an affirmation of the American people’s mandate.” Cheung described Trump’s reelection as a clear rejection of politically driven investigations and called for systemic reform to prevent future weaponization of the justice system.
Trump himself blasted the cases as partisan attacks, accusing prosecutors of unethical and politically motivated behavior. He framed the dismissals as vindication, promising to address these issues in his upcoming administration.
As Trump’s legal challenges fade, the focus shifts to his incoming presidency. The dismissal of these cases underscores the constitutional complexities of prosecuting a sitting president and marks a significant moment in Trump’s return to the White House.
