
Special Counsel Jack Smith has officially resigned from the Department of Justice after concluding his controversial investigations into President-elect Donald Trump. Smith’s resignation, effective January 10, was quietly revealed in a court filing asking U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to lift a temporary order blocking the release of his final report.
Smith had been leading two major probes targeting Trump—one focused on alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and another on the handling of classified documents. Both cases were dropped after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election. Citing a longstanding Justice Department policy, officials said prosecuting a sitting president was no longer viable.
Jack Smith Resigns, Having Failed To Take Trump to Trial for Either January 6 or the Secret Documents at Mar-a-Lago
— Gena Perez “NV DEPLORABLE “ (@GenaPer86873483) January 12, 2025
Trump and his allies consistently criticized Smith, calling the investigations politically driven and demanding accountability for what they viewed as an abuse of power. Trump labeled Smith “deranged” and vowed to remove him from office immediately upon returning to the White House.
Another Democrat political hoax fails
Jack Smith Resigns, Having Failed To Take Trump to Trial for Either January 6 or the Secret Documents at Mar-a-Lago 📰 @NewYorkSunhttps://t.co/1Q55f91h1I
— Al (@Al01619246Al) January 12, 2025
Even before Trump’s election win, Smith’s cases faced significant legal challenges. A Trump-appointed judge dismissed the classified documents case, and the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents are largely immune from prosecution for official actions. These rulings crippled the DOJ’s efforts to move forward.
"Special Counsel Jack Smith resigns after submitting his investigative report on President-elect Trump. His departure marks the end of two withdrawn prosecutions post-Trump's election win. Legal battles loom over the report's public release. #JackSmith #Trump #JusticeDepartment…
— PMLN (USA) (@pmlnusa) January 12, 2025
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in November 2022, claiming the move would ensure impartiality in politically sensitive investigations. However, critics argued the probes were part of a larger strategy to weaponize the legal system against Trump and conservative Americans.
The RAT left the ship, I wonder why?
Jack Smith Formally Resigns From The DOJhttps://t.co/RyUH8CBUSy— Lyle Philly (@LyleLarkin) January 12, 2025
Smith’s resignation signals a major victory for Trump as he prepares to return to office. With the cases against him dissolved, Trump is now positioned to focus on fulfilling his agenda without the looming threat of politically motivated prosecutions.